Push for National Missile Defense Stalled by CBO Report on Costs

Cerniello, Craig, Arms Control Today

REPUBLICAN EFFORTS to push through legislation requiring the United States to deploy a national missile defense (NMD) system by 2003 ran into trouble in mid-May when the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the so-called "Defend America Act of 1996" would involve acquisition costs between $31 billion to $60 billion through 2010. Faced with this estimate, the House postponed a floor vote on the bill, which was originally scheduled for May 23. Moreover, on June 4, the Senate rejected a motion of cloture by a vote of 53-46, seven short of the 60 votes required to prevent a threatened Democratic filibuster and force a floor vote on the bill.

Senate Majority Leader Robert …

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Publication information: Article title: Push for National Missile Defense Stalled by CBO Report on Costs. Contributors: Cerniello, Craig - Author. Magazine title: Arms Control Today. Volume: 26. Issue: 4 Publication date: May/June 1996. Page number: 23+. © 2003 Arms Control Association. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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