Don Nickles: “I am going to speak on the Defend America Act. First, let me state I am very disappointed that the Senate, one, had to…”

“I am going to speak on the Defend America Act. First, let me state I am very disappointed that the Senate, one, had to file a cloture motion, and, two, was unsuccessful in obtaining cloture so we could at least take up the Defend America Act, debate it, discuss it and vote on it. It is unfortunate the Democrats in the Senate today decided to filibuster even moving to consider legislation which would allow us to further develop systems capable of defending America. Even right now we are defenseless against intercontinental ballistic missiles. I want to compliment Senator Dole for scheduling this for a floor vote, I compliment the House of Representatives for passing it, but I am displeased that the Senate was not able to consider this legislation. It is unfortunate to think that we need to have 60 votes just to move to consider the Defend America Act. I am happy to cosponsor this act. I think it is good legislation, needed legislation. It was part of the defense authorization bill that we passed last year that unfortunately President Clinton vetoed. He vetoed it for whatever reason. I think in the campaign he continued to refer to the strategic defense initiative, star wars. But for whatever reason, he leaves us defenseless against incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles, missiles that could have a nuclear warhead, missiles that could have a chemical warhead or a biological warhead. Right now we do not have defense capabilities.”