H.J.R. 15

1

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO
2 BUILD AND DEPLOY NATIONAL MISSILE
3 DEFENSE SYSTEM
4 2003 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Sponsor: Michael T. Morley
7 This joint resolution of the Legislature urges Utah's congressional delegation to support
8 and vote for all efforts to build and deploy a national missile defense system.
9 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
10 WHEREAS, the 1972 Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty was signed with a nation
11 that no longer exists;
12 WHEREAS, an increasing number of nations--including North Korea--either currently
13 possess the capability to launch missile attacks against the United States or are working to
14 obtain that capability;
15 WHEREAS, due in part to advances in technology, the possibility that a missile bearing
16 a weapon of mass destruction will be used against United States forces or interests is higher
17 today than it was during most of the Cold War;
18 WHEREAS, terrorist groups, not just states, may have the means to buy
19 intercontinental ballistic missiles;
20 WHEREAS, the nation still has no defense against missile attack;
21 WHEREAS, the Cold War policy of "mutual assured destruction" assumed in arms
22 control treaties is not sufficient to deter terrorist missile attacks; and
23 WHEREAS, defending against a missile attack is the government's moral obligation:
24 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
25 urges the state's congressional delegation to support and vote for all efforts to build and deploy
26 a national missile defense system as rapidly as possible.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of

28 the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the
29 members of Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-27-03 11:36 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel