Juneau, Alaska – The 28th Alaska Legislature yesterday passed a resolution commemorating former President Ronald Reagan's landmark Strategic Defense Initiative speech of 1983, and marking Alaska's importance to our nation's missile defense.
House Joint Resolution 11, sponsored by Representative Dan Saddler, marks the 30th anniversary of President Reagan’s landmark Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) speech. On March 23, 1983, Reagan delivered a televised address to the nation on the nuclear and ballistic missile threat posed by the Soviet Union, appealing to Americans to support the development of technologies to counter the threat.
“President Reagan’s speech was a turning point in our nation’s history and has meant even more to our state,” Saddler, R-JBER/Eagle River, said. “Reagan’s vision and direction have led to the Alaska National Guard’s 49th Missile Defense Battalion, and has helped to cement Alaska as a strategic piece of our nation’s defense. That speech was a signal moment for Alaska.”
In addition to honoring Reagan’s speech and recognizing the state’s importance to our nation’s strategic defense, the resolution also urges the federal government to deploy the full complement of ground-based interceptors originally intended for Fort Greely, and adjust its strategy to consider current missile threats.
North Korea this week threatened to attack American military bases in Japan and Guam, drawing both the attention of the United Nations and announcements that the Pentagon may finish deployment of the 14 remaining missiles to Fort Greely.
Copies of HJR 11 will be sent to the President, Alaska’s congressional delegation, all members of Congress, the presiding officers of all state legislatures, North American Aerospace Defense Commander General Charles H. Jacoby, and Alaska National Guard Adjutant General Thomas Katkus.
