Defense Drumbeat

"Every day we live under a continuing resolution is a day we do damage to our military."

- Mac Thornberry, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee

THE PROBLEM:

Over 28,500 service members and 250,000 Americans in total live in South Korea. General Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, said yesterday "It is no secret that North Korea is quickly developing intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear weapons that can strike the continental United States which could result in the deaths of millions of Americans." Given the increasing threat from North Korean ballistic missiles we need to increase the number of missile defense interceptors to ensure the highest level of protection as possible. General Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated last week that an increase in the number of missile defense interceptors is warranted in light of the North Korean threat.

WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY:

Under the CR, new acquisitions are prohibited- including building desperately needed missile interceptors.

WHAT WE COULD BE DOING:

The House has authorized hundreds of additional interceptors of all types to protect Americaand our allies against the growing threat from North Korea. This includes 22 more THAAD interceptors, 188 more PATRIOT interceptors, and 10 more SM-3 interceptors than DOD can build under the CR.