S.Amdt. 4474

1. Adds SEC. 236. TESTING AND OPERATIONS FOR MISSILE DEFENSE at the end of subtitle C of title II

   Adds a section

   In S. 2766 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (6) An explanation of the number of systems planned for procurement for each missile defense program to be transitioned to a military department, and the schedule for procurement of each such system.

   Inserted: SEC. 236. TESTING AND OPERATIONS FOR MISSILE DEFENSE.

   Inserted: (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

   Inserted: (1) According to assessments by the intelligence community, North Korea continues to maintain an ambitious ballistic missile development program and has exported missiles and missile technology to other countries, including Iran.

   Inserted: (2) North Korea has made preparations to launch a long-range ballistic missile that could reach the United States. The launch of such a missile by North Korea would end the moratorium on long-range missile testing declared by North Korea in 1999.

   Inserted: (3) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned North Korea that the launch of a long-range ballistic missile would be an "abrogation of obligations" of its missile test moratorium and "would once again show North Korea determined to deepen its isolation, determined not to take a path that is a path of compromise and a path of peace, but rather instead to once again saber-rattle".

   Inserted: (4) According to assessments by the intelligence community, Iran has a very active ballistic missile development program, which includes recent improvements to the Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile to extend its range beyond the Middle East. The danger that Iran will acquire a nuclear weapon and the ability to integrate it with the ballistic missiles Iran already possesses is a reason for immediate concern. With continued assistance, Iran could have an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States before 2015.

   Inserted: (5) According to assessments by the intelligence community, North Korea continues to produce plutonium for its nuclear weapons program, while Iran remains committed to acquiring a nuclear weapon and is currently developing its nuclear infrastructure.

   Inserted: (6) The Department of Defense has fielded interceptors and other initial components of a missile defense system capable of providing limited protection for the United States against ballistic missile attack. In view of the immediate threat of a test launch by North Korea of a long-range ballistic missile in the direction of the United States and the continuing efforts of Iran to develop longer-range ballistic missiles, the Department of Defense should expand the size and effectiveness of the current missile defense capabilities of the United States as the threat from these countries continues to grow.

   Inserted: (b) Additional Funding.--

   Inserted: (1) Additional amount for missile defense agency.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 201(4) for research, development, test, and evaluation for Defense-wide activities, the amount that is available for the Missile Defense Agency is hereby increased by $45,000,000.

   Inserted: (2) Availability of amount.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 201(4) for research, development, test, and evaluation for Defense-wide activities and available for the Missile Defense Agency, as increased by paragraph (1), $45,000,000 may be available for Ballistic Missile Defense Midcourse Defense Segment (PE #63882C)--

   Inserted: (A) to accelerate the ability to conduct concurrent test and missile defense operations; and

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   Inserted: (B) to increase the pace of realistic flight testing of the ground-based midcourse defense system.

   Inserted: (3) Supplement.--Amounts available under paragraph (2) for the program element referred to in that paragraph are in addition to any other amounts available in this Act for that program element.

   Inserted: (4) Offset.--The amount authorized to be appropriated by section 201(4) for research, development, test, and evaluation for Defense-wide activities that is available for any purpose other than the Missile Defense Agency is hereby reduced by $45,000,000.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle C of title II, add the following:

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As printed