Rodney Frelinghuysen: “I rise today to support H.R. 4, the National Missile Defense Act, and to thank my colleagues Curt Weldon, John Spratt…”

“I rise today to support H.R. 4, the National Missile Defense Act, and to thank my colleagues Curt Weldon, John Spratt, and Chairman Floyd Spence for their leadership on this issue. It is important that the House consider this bill today in an effort to educate America as to why this issue is so important to our future. Mr. Speaker, I have long believed that the security of the American people is the primary and most important responsibility of the Federal Government. In recent years we have learned that one of the biggest threats facing that security is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and more importantly the dissemination of sensitive missile technology into the hands of our potential advisories. Recent polls indicate that many Americans think our military forces can currently shoot down any missile fired at the United States. Well, Mr. Chairman, as the debate has pointed out here today, this is not the case. The United States does not have a missile defense system today and we won't have a missile defense system tomorrow unless this Congress acts responsibility to direct our military to develop one. H.R. 4 is the first step towards beginning this process.”