00                      SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9                                                                     
01 Relating to the development and deployment of the National Missile Defense System.                                      
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS the proliferation by foreign nations and organizations of weapons of                                    
04 mass destruction and of the technology for long-range missiles is a growing danger to all 50                            
05 states; and                                                                                                             
06       WHEREAS this threat was demonstrated on August 31, 1998, when North Korea                                       
07 flight-tested a long-range missile over Japan, and the missile splashed down in the Pacific                             
08 Ocean, clearly showing the danger ballistic missiles pose to Alaska and other states on the                             
09 west coast of the United States; and                                                                                    
10       WHEREAS, in response to this growing threat, the United States has initiated the                                
11 National Missile Defense Program to protect all 50 states from foreign ballistic missile attack;                        
12 and                                                                                                                     
13       WHEREAS Alaska is strategically located because of its close proximity to east Asia                             
14 and Europe, and is the only state from which the entire United States can be defended; and                              
15       WHEREAS the developers of the National Missile Defense System have identified                                   
16 several sites in Alaska as preferred alternatives for the location of major components of the                           

01 system, including the radar site and intercept vehicles; and                                                            
02       WHEREAS construction contracts for the National Missile Defense System were not                                 
03 approved by President Clinton in 2000, delaying the construction schedule; and                                          
04       WHEREAS barges carrying material to begin construction on a Shemya Island radar                                 
05 site could still embark this year; and                                                                                  
06       WHEREAS President George W.  Bush and members of his cabinet have indicated                                     
07 their strong support for the development of a National Missile Defense System;                                          
08       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature calls upon the President of the                                
09 United States to direct the United States Department of Defense to develop and deploy the                               
10 National Missile Defense System as soon as technologically possible.                                                    
11       COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable George W. Bush, President                              
12 of the United States; the Honorable Donald Rumsfeld, United States Secretary of Defense; the                            
13 Honorable John Warner, Chair, U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee; the Honorable Bob                                   
14 Stump, Chair, U.S. House Armed Services Committee; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and                                 
15 the Honorable Frank Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S.                                         
16 Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.