$5M For Hawaii Missile Defense
The U.S. House OKs shifting the money within the 2017 Defense Department appropriation bill, says Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
The U. S. House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the Department of Defense 2017 appropriations bill that would provide $5 million to “initiate planning and design for a new ballistic missile defense radar in Hawaii,”聽Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said in a press release Wednesday.
The House is expected to vote on full passage of the bill Thursday.
Gabbard said the move reflects concern about the possibility of missiles being fired at Hawaii or the mainland from North Korea:
鈥淣orth Korea鈥檚 ongoing pursuit of increased nuclear and missile capabilities are a reminder of the serious threat 贬补飞补颈驶颈 and the U.S. mainland face.聽We need to take this threat seriously and ensure our defenses stay ahead of North Korea鈥檚 rapid development. My amendment makes an important investment in improving our ability to detect missile threats in 贬补飞补颈驶颈 and ensures the Department of Defense moves quickly to address this threat.鈥
Gabbard told Civil Beat last week that Hawaii is “directly within range of North Korea鈥檚 intercontinental ballistic missiles today. This is not something that may happen in 10 years, 20 years, 30 years. This exists today.”
