BILL REQ. #:  S-1569.3 

Read first time 02/24/2003.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty was signed with a nation that no longer exists; and
     WHEREAS, An increasing number of nations either currently possess the capability to launch missile attacks against the United States or are working to obtain that capability; and
     WHEREAS, Due in part to advances in technology, the possibility that a missile bearing a weapon of mass destruction will be used against United States forces or interests is higher today than it was during most of the Cold War; and
     WHEREAS, Terrorist groups, not just states, may have the means to buy intercontinental ballistic missiles; and
     WHEREAS, The nation still has no defense against missile attack; and
     WHEREAS, The Cold War policy of "mutual assured destruction" assumed in arms control treaties is not sufficient to deter missile attacks; and
     WHEREAS, Washington state is vital to the strength of the United States military by harboring several military bases: Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base, Bremerton Naval Shipyard, Bangor Naval Shipyard, Everett Naval Station, and Whidbey Island Air Force Base; and
     WHEREAS, In case of attack, we must be able to rely and protect our brave troops in and around these bases; and
     WHEREAS, The importance of the Puget Sound Region is unparalleled due to its accessability for international commerce; and
     WHEREAS, Defending against a missile attack is the government's moral obligation;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully request our elected Representatives and Senators in the United States Congress to support and vote for all efforts to build and deploy a national missile defense system as rapidly as possible.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.