Roy Cooper: “This amendment violates a bipartisan agreement that was reached in the House Armed Services Committee. I wish that the…”

“This amendment violates a bipartisan agreement that was reached in the House Armed Services Committee. I wish that the gentleman would focus on the fact that micromanaging our Nation's nuclear defenses is really not in the best interest of our country. I also urge the gentleman to realize that this is a highly technical issue. We have some 450 Minuteman-III missile silos. This would change the status of about 50 of those 450. These are probably the least survivable of all our nuclear weapons. They have been targeted by the Russians and probably others for decades. It is very important that we have an appropriate and flexible and survivable nuclear deterrent. As I mentioned, these land-based missiles are probably the least survivable. It is also important to recognize that, as I understand the way the amendment is drafted, this could even prevent testing and routine maintenance of these silos. I know that is not the gentleman's intent, but we need to make sure that we are not overreaching here and hamstringing our military and their nuclear defenses. It is no secret that the sponsors of this amendment happen to be from the States of North Carolina, Montana, and Wyoming, and also a gentleman from Colorado. That leads one to think that this might perhaps be a parochial amendment more than a nuclear defense amendment. I hope that is not the case, but it does lead one to think in that direction. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.”