Tony Thurmond: “I am extremely proud to be a principal cosponsor of the Defend America Act of 1996, which was introduced by Senator Dole…”

“I am extremely proud to be a principal cosponsor of the Defend America Act of 1996, which was introduced by Senator Dole today. This legislation will fill a glaring void in U.S. national security policy by requiring the deployment of a national missile defense system by 2003 that is capable of defending the United States against a limited, accidental, or unauthorized ballistic missile attack. Ironically, most Americans already believe that we have such a system in place. This assumption is understandable since under the Constitution the President's first responsibility is to provide for the defense of the American homeland. Unfortunately, the current President has decided that this obligation is one that can be indefinitely delayed. I join Senator Dole and others today in proclaiming that the time has come to end America's complete vulnerability to ballistic missile blackmail and attack. The President and senior members of the administration have argued that there is no threat to justify deployment of a national missile defense system. This is simply not true.”