On June 2, 2009, Representative Ike Skelton introduced H.R.2647, or the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. This bill was approved by the House Armed Services Committee on June 17, 2009.
Thankfully the Democratic members on the Committee were able to thwart Republican efforts to attach amendments to the bill for funding national missile defense programs. The Council for a Livable World played an active part in rebuffing Republicans by sending a letter on June 15th to members of the Armed Services Committee on behalf of national security non-profit community.
The Obama administration under the leadership of Secretary Gates has undertaken a fundamental realignment of the US military. A critical component of the shift in defense policy is to eliminate costly, unproven defense systems of which missile defense is top of the list. Through its rejection of missile defense funding amendments, the House has shown its support of the President’s initiative for creating a military that can better meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
