On the recordMay 15, 2015
I would like to thank the ranking member for yielding and the chairman and his staff for working with me on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, the National Defense Authorization Act tasks the Missile Defense Agency with developing a concept for a space-based missile defense system. There is no doubt that missile defense--if technologically feasible, militarily robust, and economically justifiable--would be an important priority for our national security. But as a scientist, I think that we need to do our homework before we begin investing hundreds of billions of dollars into developing this system, and that is why I am introducing this amendment to require a preliminary cost estimate for this project. A 2012 report by the National Academy of Sciences estimated that even to provide limited coverage, hundreds of interceptors would be required to stop an incoming ballistic missile. Because of the cost to launch, maintain, operate, and replenish the interceptors, even a limited system would cost a minimum of $200 billion. We must do our due diligence before investing billions of taxpayer dollars into any project. So I urge my colleagues to join me and vote ``yes'' on this amendment.
