HF 3695

as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                             A resolution
  1.2             urging Congress to oppose implementation of a national 
  1.3             missile defense system and to redirect funds towards 
  1.4             real security needs, and for other purposes. 
  1.5      
  1.6      WHEREAS, the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty has played 
  1.7   a crucial trust-building role during and after the Cold War, and 
  1.8   U.S. withdrawal from the treaty has stressed our relationship 
  1.9   with Russia and China; and 
  1.10     WHEREAS, implementing a national missile defense system 
  1.11  encourages countries such as China, Russia, North Korea, 
  1.12  Pakistan, and India to test, maintain, and enhance their nuclear 
  1.13  weapons programs; and 
  1.14     WHEREAS, according to the Center for Strategic Budgetary 
  1.15  Assessment, missile defense programs have already cost the 
  1.16  United States $148 billion; and 
  1.17     WHEREAS, according to the Congressional Budget Office, a 
  1.18  national missile defense system will cost at least $238 billion 
  1.19  over the next 15 to 25 years; and 
  1.20     WHEREAS, the United States national intelligence community 
  1.21  recently reported that terrorist groups are more likely to 
  1.22  attack the United States using a suitcase bomb, airplane, or 
  1.23  truck bomb than with a ballistic missile, and that programs that 
  1.24  deal with these scenarios are still underfunded; and 
  1.25     WHEREAS, the cost of national missile defense robs domestic 
  2.1   programs of much-needed support, and the funds spent on the 
  2.2   program between 2001 and 2005 alone would be enough to hire 
  2.3   452,830 new teachers or provide Head Start to 10,721,944 
  2.4   children; and 
  2.5      WHEREAS, providing the services needed for real security, 
  2.6   such as health care, education, and a clean environment, is the 
  2.7   utmost responsibility for the federal government, and those 
  2.8   needs are not being met; NOW, THEREFORE, 
  2.9      BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
  2.10  that it urges the Congress of the United States to (1) oppose 
  2.11  implementation of a national missile defense system; and (2) 
  2.12  redirect those funds towards programs that promote real security.
  2.13     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  2.14  State of Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this 
  2.15  memorial and transmit them to the President and the Secretary of 
  2.16  the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the 
  2.17  United States House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators 
  2.18  and Representatives in Congress.