Senate Approves Feinstein/Stevens Measure to Prohibit the Development or Use of Nuclear Armed Interceptors
May 22, 2003

Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate last night unanimously approved a provision sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) that would extend the prohibition on the development or use of nuclear armed interceptors as part of a ballistic missile defense system. The amendment will be included as part of the FY'04 Defense Authorization bill.

Last year, the Senate approved similar legislation sponsored by Senators Feinstein and Stevens prohibiting any funds from being used to research, develop or procure any nuclear armed interceptors for one year. The measure approved today extends the prohibition for another year.

"The use of nuclear armed interceptors represents a deeply troubling departure from the missile defense testing that has occurred up to this point," Senator Feinstein said. "A nuclear armed interceptor is a defensive missile that uses a nuclear, rather than conventional, explosive tip to destroy its target. It is based on the premise that a large blast will overwhelm all of the components of an enemy missile."

The use of nuclear armed interceptors represents a departure from the ballistic missile defense testing that has occurred up to this point in which a particular missile is targeted. Under this approach, a nuclear tipped interceptor would be exploded in the vicinity of the missile, ensuring the destruction of the missile and any other objects around it.

"This approach overlooks a laundry list of catastrophic side-effects that would accompany a nuclear blast in the atmosphere," Senator Feinstein said. "In my view, the development of these nuclear-tipped interceptors would be a major mistake, and I believe that this amendment is needed to prevent us from going down this path. As a Senator from a State that could feel the brunt of radiological, chemical or biological fall-out in the event of a missile defense activation, I am compelled to act. But make no mistake about it, every State in the Union faces the specter of contamination. It is critical the Senate take a leadership role by preventing such research and testing."

The amendment simply states: "No funds authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense by this Act may be obligated or expended for research, development, test, and evaluation, procurement, or deployment of nuclear armed interceptors in a missile defense system."

###