Mike Levin: “It has been said that this language in the bill is not inconsistent with the ABM Treaty. I just want to simply read the…”

“It has been said that this language in the bill is not inconsistent with the ABM Treaty. I just want to simply read the language. It speaks for itself. The ABM Treaty says that the parties undertake to deploy an ABM at no more than one site. The bill says it is the policy of the United States to deploy a multiple site defense system. It also has been said, quoting here Mr. Deutch, that we should be willing to modify the ABM Treaty. And we surely should. Those negotiations are taking place right now. I believe we should try to modify the ABM Treaty. I would like to see a negotiated capability to deploy defenses--a negotiated capability to deploy defenses. The current Missile Defense Act provides that as something we should seek to obtain through negotiations. But what does the bill say about negotiations and modifying the treaty? The bill says it is the sense of the Senate that the President should cease all efforts to modify the United States' obligations under the ABM Treaty.”