HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

132

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

Proposed

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

SUPPORTING THE AEGIS BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM AND THE GROUND-BASED MIDCOURSE DEFENSE SYSTEM.

 

 

 


WHEREAS, Hawaii is a world leader in uniting countries in peace and harmony through the spirit of kokua and aloha and through its leadership, participation, efforts, and commitment to improve the quality of life enjoyed by all; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1960, the aloha spirit played a key role in convincing the United States Congress to establish the twenty-one acre East-West Center, located adjacent to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, midway between Asia and the United States mainland; and

 

     WHEREAS, the East-West Center hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in November 2011, where the twenty-one member body assembled in Hawaii to discuss transpacific strategic economic partnerships, regional economic integration, climate change, food safety, and food security; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is also the epicenter of the Pacific Rim and home to the United States Pacific Command Headquarters, established in 1947; and

 

WHEREAS, Hawaii has hosted the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, which has brought together the navies from throughout the Pacific Rim in a collaborative effort to share their respective expertise; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System is the foundation of the sea-based ballistic missile defense for the Unites States, Japan, Spain, Norway, the Republic of Korea, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Air Defense Artillery Missile Defense System is the foundation of land-based ballistic missile defense for Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel, Germany, Netherlands, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and the Air Defense Artillery Missile Defense System have effectively served to deter aggression from other countries; and

 

WHEREAS, the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System and its Ground Based Interceptor missiles in Alaska and California and sensors located around the Pacific Rim, including the Sea-based X-band Radar stationed in Hawaii, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense ships ported in Hawaii, and radars located in Alaska and Japan, in conjunction with the Missile Defense Integration and 613th Air and Space Operations Center located at Hickam Air Force Base, function as key components of the integrated United States Ballistic Missile Defense System; and

 

WHEREAS, the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai plays a critical role in the development and testing of the United States and allied nations’ missile defense systems and serves to defend the United States, including Hawaii, Alaska, and the Pacific Rim, against long-range ballistic missiles; and

 

     WHEREAS, due to Hawaii's geographical proximity to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, military preparedness and defensive action are key in deterring aggression, preserving peace, safeguarding freedom, and protecting the United States and its citizens; and

 

     WHEREAS, on December 12, 2012, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted a successful long-range ballistic missile test and on February 12, 2013, conducted a nuclear weapons test; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United Nations has increased sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as a means to prevent further testing of their nuclear arms and long-range missile capabilities; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that this body acknowledges, supports, and commends the achievements of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System and expresses its gratitude for the protection and freedoms these systems and the people who manage them provide to the people of the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Adjutant General.

Report Title: 

North Korea; AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense System; Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System