Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/2161

 120 STAT. 2130

PUBLIC LAW 109–364—OCT. 17, 2006 (4) A projection of the foreign policy and national security implications of a space-based interceptor program, including the probable response of United States adversaries and United States allies.

10 USC 2431 note.

SEC. 223. POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES ON PRIORITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT, TESTING, AND FIELDING OF MISSILE DEFENSE CAPABILITIES.

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) In response to the threat posed by ballistic missiles, President George W. Bush in December 2002 directed the Secretary of Defense to proceed with the fielding of an initial set of missile defense capabilities in 2004 and 2005. (2) According to assessments by the intelligence community of the United States, North Korea tested in 2005 a new solid propellant short-range ballistic missile, conducted a launch of a Taepodong-2 ballistic missile/space launch vehicle in 2006, and is likely developing intermediate-range and intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities that could someday reach as far as the United States with a nuclear payload. (3) According to assessments by the intelligence community of the United States, Iran continued in 2005 to test its mediumrange ballistic missile, and the danger that Iran will acquire a nuclear weapon and integrate it with a ballistic missile Iran already possesses is a reason for immediate concern. (b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States that the Department of Defense accord a priority within the missile defense program to the development, testing, fielding, and improvement of effective near-term missile defense capabilities, including the ground-based midcourse defense system, the Aegis ballistic missile defense system, the Patriot PAC–3 system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, and the sensors necessary to support such systems. SEC. 224. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF COMPTROLLER GENERAL ASSESSMENTS OF BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAMS.

Section 232(g) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (10 U.S.C. 2431 note) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘through 2008’’; and (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘through 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘through 2009’’. SEC. 225. SUBMITTAL OF PLANS FOR TEST AND EVALUATION OF THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY OF THE BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM.

Deadline.

VerDate 14-DEC-2004

13:05 Jul 12, 2007

Section 234(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109–163; 119 Stat. 3174; 10 U.S.C. 2431 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ‘‘(3) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Each plan prepared under this subsection and approved by the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation shall be submitted to the congressional defense committees not later than 30 days after the date of the approval of such plan by the Director.’’.

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