Congressman Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, made the following statement today after learning from news reports that North Korea had launched a long-range rocket.

“North Korea's latest apparently successful test of a ballistic missile is disturbing given President Obama's seven years of a slash-and-burn approach to missile defense.

“Obama's assumption that if we stop developing missile defense for the homeland, others would stop working to hold us at risk with the world's most dangerous weapons was always foolish. It has now been proven dangerous.

“The FY17 NDAA my subcommittee will draft will be an important opportunity to rebuild our missile defenses and to set-up the next Administration to rebuild after eight years of Obama's leading from behind,” Chairman Rogers said.

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