Rep. Mo Brooks introduces legislation to prevent classified missile data being shared with Russia


By Leada Gore | lgore@al.com
on March 14, 2013 at 11:41 AM, updated March 14, 2013





Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, said new legislation would prohibit classified missile defense information from being shared with Russia. (The Huntsville Times file photo)

New legislation from 5th District U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks would stop the White House from sharing classified missile defense technology with Russia, a move he said would protect "American technology and American lives."Brooks, R-Huntsville, introduced the Protecting U.S. Missile Defense Information Act of 2013 today. The legislation is an expansion of previous bills in 2011 and 2012 to prevent the White House from sharing classified American missile defense technology as leverage in negotiations with Russia.

"(The bill) keeps United States missile defense information and technology out of the hands of the Russian Federation. Taxpayers have paid hundreds of billions of dollars to develop this technology and it is too important to our national security to let it fall into the wrong hands. Our hit-to-kill missile technology is the crown jewel of missile defense, and we should never surrender it to foreign states who are not committed allies of the United States," Brooks said.
In 2011, Brooks introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that barred the White House from sharing hit-to-kill missile technology with Russia. The next year, Brooks attached similar legislation to the Defense Appropriations Bill that is pending in the Senate.

The new bill would require the White House to provide reports and briefings to Congressional defense committees on any missile defense discussions between the U.S. and Russia. It would also require the defense committees to receive reports if any missile defense information is considered for declassification.

Brooks said the bill also prohibits executive agreements related to missile defense capabilities with countries that are not part of an existing treaty alliance or security guarantee. It also requires the White House to report on Russia's support of ballistic missile defense programs in China, Syria, Iran and North Korea.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, and Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton are among the bill's cosponsors. Brooks is a member of the House Armed Service's Strategic Forces and Oversight and Investigation subcommittees.

Rep. Mo Brooks introduces legislation to prevent classified missile data being shared with Russia | al.com