02/08/2001 10:47 AM Senate RLS

VICE-CHAIR COWDERY announced  SJR  9-NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM                                                          
to be up for consideration.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS asked if  the national missile defense system proposal                                                            
has been proven to work.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. PAUL  ROETMAN, staff  to Senator Leman,  sponsor of SJR  9, said                                                            
there is a design  for a national missile defense  system but it has                                                            
not  been deployed  and  is  not yet  operational.   The  system  as                                                            
designed may  change.  SJR 9 shows  general support for the  concept                                                            
that all 50 states  should be protected from ballistic  missiles; it                                                            
does not endorse a specific system.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS  noted that  Alaska favors  a land-based system  while                                                            
President Bush  favors a sea-based system.  He asked  if SJR 9 makes                                                            
a value judgment about either system.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. ROETMAN said it does not.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  PHILLIPS  moved   to  calendar  SJR  9.    There  being  no                                                            
objection, VICE-CHAIR COWDERY noted the motion carried.