"I also want to extend a warm welcome to our witnesses for appearing before us today. We welcome back General Chilton, though in a new position. We are fortunate that your promotion kept you in our strategic forces sphere.

"It is an honor to have Mr. D'Agostino with us again and I am privileged to welcome Mr. Vickers in his first appearance before us.

"I also want to congratulate our witnesses for their efforts in successfully intercepting a disabled NRO satellite last week. This challenging mission was not one you had envisioned or had much time to prepare for, yet you did the job well and safeguarded the public from potential harm. I commend the transparent manner in which your plans and intent were communicated to Congress, the American people, and the international community.

"At a hearing two weeks ago, the Deputy Director for National Intelligence, Dr. Fingar, testified on the broad global threats and challenges facing the United States. Chief among them include:

"The continuing terrorist threat;

"WMD-related proliferation;

"Iran and North Korea's WMD and missile programs;

"Increasing cyber attacks on U.S. networks;

"Pakistan nuclear security;

"Growing counterspace threats; and

"China and PLA modernization.

"These are the security challenges that will continue to shape our strategic forces posture and policy well beyond traditional nuclear deterrence. I would like to hear from our witnesses their thoughts on this changing strategic environment and its implications for our defense policy and capability needs.

"I remain concerned about our space protection posture and how our military operates in a space threat environment. Do military contingency plans and exercises consider satellite attack scenarios? I am told we have workarounds and alternatives, but I have found that when I pull the thread, there is little detail. Perhaps we should hold a classified briefing on this.

"The Chinese ASAT test remains a stark reminder to me of what we're up against. The Chinese and others must know that attacks against our satellites are unacceptable. I'd appreciate your thoughts on policy options to deter others from holding our space assets at risk and how we can develop a more robust space architecture.

"We have similar challenges in the cyber domain, though I will be the first to say this is an even less understood security issue than space. Your observations are valued as we examine the National Cyber Initiative and get our arms around the cyber elements spread across the federal government.

"Last year, commanders from STRATCOM, PACOM, and U.S. Forces Korea testified to the need for more missile defense inventory to keep pace with growing missile threats. General Chilton, I would ask you to discuss the warfighter's missile defense force structure requirements. I would also like your assessment of the missile defense test program and when you would have confidence in the operational effectiveness of the missile defense system.

"President Bush met with Czech Prime Minister Topolanek earlier today and discussed the importance of missile defense and collective security. Polish Prime Minister Tusk visits the U.S. next month. I understand teams of Czech, Polish, and U.S. negotiators have worked incredibly hard to obtain missile defense agreements. I want to publicly thank them for their efforts and encourage a speedy conclusion. These efforts reflect a shared commitment to our relationships and our collective security. I hope our witnesses will expand upon these negotiations.

"I also understand we are making progress with NATO integration. I was recently briefed on the joint missile defense scenarios being run between MDA's C2BMC system and NATO's prototype command and control system.

"Building upon the 2001 Nuclear Posture Review, the Secretaries of Defense, State, and Energy released a statement last summer on U.S. national security and nuclear weapons and stated their intent to provide a detailed strategy later this year. With the witnesses assembled today, we have an opportunity to discuss:

"Policy issues associated with strategic deterrence;

"The military's nuclear requirements;

"Their assessment of the current nuclear stockpile and Reliable Replacement Warhead program; and

"The viability, long-term risks, and force structure implications of a future with life extension weapons and RRW.

"Before I close, I want to acknowledge NNSA and the Administration and credit them with implementing the largest nuclear stockpile reductions since the end of the Cold War.

"NNSA's dismantlement rates are at an all time high;

"The Moscow Treaty reductions for operationally-deployed strategic warheads are on track;

"The stockpile reductions directed by the President in 2004, to cut the 2001 nuclear weapons stockpile by 50 percent by 2012, have already been accomplished and an additional 15 percent reduction was announced last December; and

"The nonproliferation program has expanded to reflect the evolving proliferation threat.

"I would like to thank the Chairman for calling this important hearing and thank our witnesses for their leadership and service. I look forward to your testimony."