WASHINGTON – Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement today: 

“Yesterday North Korea conducted a long-range missile launch that threatens the U.S. and its allies, undermines stability in the Pacific and violates multiple international accords. This provocative act is heightened by the regime’s ongoing development of nuclear weapons. The regime’s actions highlight the importance of the U.S. deploying a capable national missile defense program, which regrettably has been subject to severe and unwarranted cuts in recent years. As our Israeli allies have demonstrated, missile defenses are proven and vital to national security in the 21st century. As Chairman, I have opposed reductions to missile defense in the past, and will continue to work for increased funding and more capable systems that help keep our nation safe.”