Steven Holt: “All of us condemn this reckless, provocative nuclear test by North Korea. North Korea's pursuit of a nuclear capability…”

“All of us condemn this reckless, provocative nuclear test by North Korea. North Korea's pursuit of a nuclear capability is destabilizing and not in the interest of the people of that nation, who suffer daily under one of the worst dictatorships the world has seen. Yet even as we condemn this test and seek to prevent future ones, we must not make the mistake of believing--as this resolution asserts-- that supporting more money for a ballistic missile defense system is the answer. America has wasted literally tens of billions of dollars since the 1980s in pursuit of a ballistic missile shield that is not technically feasible and is viewed as destabilizing by our international partners, especially Russia. While I support this resolution's condemnation of North Korea's test, I do not support its call for spending more money on a failed missile defense effort. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 65, as amended. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.”