A group of U.S. senators recently introduced the Prevention of Arms Race Act of 2019.
The bill would prevent funding for the purchase, flight-testing or deployment of ballistic missiles or ground-launched missiles with a range of between 310.7 and 3,417.5 miles until the Trump Administration provides a report that meets seven criteria.
The criteria included are to identify a U.S. ally willing to host such a system, detail diplomatic efforts to bring Russia back into compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) and assess the risk to national security from Russia being able to deploy greater numbers of intermediate range missiles. It also includes identifying what programs could offset additional Russian capabilities, identifying mission requirements in regards to Russia and China, identifying the degree to which sea and air-launched cruise missiles can meet the same mission requirements, and listing the costs to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the ability to maintain consensus within the NATO Alliance should the INF Treaty collapse.
The senators stressed that pulling out of INF would put the United States and its allies at risk.
The bill was introduced by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).