Space

Strategic Anti-Missile Revitalization and Security Act of 1996 (Introduced in the Senate)

S 1562 IS

To require the President to give notice of the intention of the United States to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and for other purposes.

February 6, 1996

Mr. HELMS introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

To require the President to give notice of the intention of the United States to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Strategic Anti-Missile Revitalization and Security Act of 1996'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The Constitution vests in the Government of the United States responsibility to provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare of the American people.

(2) Due to limitations imposed by the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the United States is prohibited from deploying a national missile defense capable of defending America against even the most limited of ballistic missile attack.

(3) The concept of mutual assured destruction which underlies the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty is technologically and geostrategically outdated and cannot serve as a basis for stability in a multipolar world characterized by rampant proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile technology.

(4) The possibility of ballistic missile attack upon the United States by a rogue country constitutes a clear, present, and growing threat to the supreme interests of the United States.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO GIVE NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL.

No later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall give notice to the Russian Federation of the intention of the United States to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, as permitted under article XV of that treaty.

SEC. 4. PROHIBITIONS.

Beginning 210 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, appropriated funds shall not be obligated or expended for the purpose of proscribing, enforcing, or implementing any provision of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

SEC. 5. ACTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT.

On the date that is 180 days after the date of the notification of the President to the Russian Federation under section 3, the President shall certify to Congress that the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty is no longer interpreted to apply to the development, deployment, or operation of any missile defense system or air defense system of the United States, including any component of such a system or upgrade of such a system or component.

SEC. 6. DEFINITION.

As used in this Act, the term `Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty' means the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems, signed at Moscow on May 26, 1972, with related protocol, signed at Moscow on July 3, 1974.