Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 2.djvu/1031

 PUBLIC LAW 100-456—SEPT. 29, 1988

102 STAT. 2035

deployed by the Soviet Union. Such assessment shall consider both the deployment by the Soviet Union of a nationwide, and of a limited, antiballistic missile system. In assessing the ability of the United States to counter effectively such a system, the President— (1) shall consider the ability of the United States to modify (A) existing strategic offensive forces (including modifications involving the development of additional penetration aids), and (B) current strategic doctrine and tactics; and (2) shall consider whether the actions of the United States described in paragraph (1) could be accomplished over the same period of time that the Soviet Union would require to deploy such an antiballistic missile system. (c) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 1989, the President shall submit to Congress a report, in both a classified and an unclassified version, specifying the results of the study conducted pursuant to this section. The report shall include such recommendations as the President considers appropriate, including recommendations with r ^ a r d to maintaining the deterrent value of the strategic forces of the United States in light of the antiballistic missile capability and activities of the Soviet Union described in the report. SEC. 908. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIC NUCLEAR FORCE POSTURES FOR THE UNITED STATES UNDER A POTENTIAL START TREATY

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) The United States and the Soviet Union are currently engaged in talks regarding the reduction of strategic nuclear arms. (2) Such talks could result in a treaty requiring deep reductions in the strategic forces of the United States. (3) Any such Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) cannot be ratified without the advice and consent of the Senate. (4) Any such START Treaty should result in a stable balance of strategic forces between the United States and the Soviet Union which enhances the security of the United States. (5) Congress should provide funds for the forces permitted under such a treaty that are required to ensure the stability of the force balance under such a treaty. (6) Congress faces critical resource choices for fiscal year 1989 and subsequent fiscal years, and the resource choices made by Congress for those years could substantially influence the strategic force posture of the United States in the period after such a treaty goes into effect. (b) PRESIDENTIAL REPORT.—Before entering into any Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty or other agreement with the Soviet Union for the reduction of strategic arms, but not later than September 15, 1988, the President shall submit to Congress a comprehensive report on the implications such a treaty or agreement might have on the strategic force postures of the United States during the 1990s. The report shall include the following: (1) A description of alternative force postures that might be permitted for the United States under such an arms reduction agreement, including the posture recommended by the President. (2) The estimated costs, over at least a seven-year period, associated with each alternative force posture.

Classified information. Public information.

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