Senate Resolution 232
(Passed Senate:April 4, 2003)
By: Senators Harp of the 16th, Johnson of the 1st, Price of the 56th, Mullis of the 53rd and Squires of the 5th.
ADOPTED SENATE
A RESOLUTION
Declaring support for a missile defense system; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the people of the State of Georgia view with growing concern the proliferation and buildup of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons of mass destruction and missile delivery systems for these weapons in the hands of hostile, or potentially hostile, and unstable foreign regimes; and
WHEREAS, the tragedy of September 11, 2001, shows that America is vulnerable to attack by foreign enemies; and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is highly vulnerable to potential terrorist attack due to the recognized number of high-value targets within our borders; and
WHEREAS, the nature of nontraditional threats to U.S. security is increasing daily from rogue regimes developing increasingly accurate long-range missile systems that can deliver both nuclear and biochemical warheads; and
WHEREAS, North Korea has clearly established its intention to proceed with the further development of its offensive ballistic missiles and nuclear armaments, either as instruments of blackmail and extortion or for operational deployment, thereby contravening all previous nonproliferation agreements and understandings, with the effect of threatening the security of South Korea, Japan, and the United States; and
WHEREAS, Georgia is a major center for the on-going research involved in deploying a missile defense system for the United States; and
WHEREAS, the people of the State of Georgia wish to affirm their support of the government of the United States to take all actions necessary to protect the people of America and future generations, including from attacks by missiles capable of causing mass destruction and loss of American lives.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that:
(1) The General Assembly of Georgia hereby supports the President of the United States in continuing to take all actions necessary, directing the considerable scientific and technological capability of the great Union, to protect all 50 states and their people, our allies, and our armed forces abroad from the threat of missile attack; and
(2) The General Assembly of Georgia hereby conveys to the President of the United States and the Congress the sense that a nationwide, effective missile defense system will require the deployment of a robust, multilayered architecture consisting of integrated land based, sea based, and space based capabilities to deter evolving future threats from missiles as weapons of mass destruction and to meet and destroy them when necessary; and
(3) The General Assembly of Georgia appeals to the President of the United States and Congress to plan and fund a missile defense system beyond 2005 that would consolidate technological advancement and expansion from the limited applications currently planned.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the President of the United States; the president, majority leader, and minority leader of the United States Senate; the speaker and minority leader of the United States House of Representatives; and each member of Congress from the State of Georgia.
