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REPS LIEU, STEFANIK, LANGEVIN, LAMBORN INTRODUCE BILL TO DEVELOP DIRECTED ENERGY DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM

July 3, 2019

WASHINGTON – This week, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Congressman Doug Lamborn are introducing the bipartisan "U.S.-U.K. Directed Energy Cooperation Act." The bill enables the Secretary of Defense to work with United Kingdom counterparts on developing directed energy technology. This partnership will enable both countries to collaborate on technology that can offer the countries a non-lethal defense against advance missiles and unmanned aerial systems.

Upon introduction, Rep. Lieu said:

"Directed energy technology will help us save lives. As a precise method of stopping ballistic missiles and other major threats, directed energy technology will help the U.K. and U.S. strengthen our defenses against hostile attacks and emerging threats. The United Kingdom has been one of our strongest military allies for decades, and sharing knowledge and research around directed energy platforms benefits our respective countries and the bond we share. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Reps. Stefanik, Langevin, and Lamborn, who share my commitment to finding safe, effective ways to save lives and defend our country."

Upon introduction, Rep. Stefanik said:

"Ensuring we have the defensive capabilities to deter technological advances and evolving threats from our adversaries is critical to the long-term safety of the US and our armed forces," said Congresswoman Stefanik. "Now is the time to press forward with the development of promising innovations like directed energy. This legislation would build on years of collaboration with the UK and support the necessary R&D to establish next-generation directed energy technologies for the mutual national security of our nations."

Upon introduction, Rep. Langevin, chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities and co-chair of the Directed Energy Caucus, said:

"Directed energy has extraordinary potential for defending against missile and drone attacks. Increased collaboration between the United Kingdom and the United States on these emerging technologies will advance the strategic defenses of both nations. I have fought to fund these programs in the National Defense Authorization Act, and I am pleased to join Representatives Lieu, Stefanik, and Lamborn in introducing the U.S.-U.K. Directed Energy Cooperation Act to strengthen research and development partnerships with one of our most important allies."

Upon introduction, Rep. Lamborn said:

"I am happy to cosponsor this significant legislation which will leverage the technological progress of both the United States and our allies in the United Kingdom to produce directed energy research greater than the sum of its parts. DE is the future of warfare, and this legislation represents potential opportunities to leap-frog the current threat environment in many different domains. We have seen tremendous success with co-development arrangements for missile defense capabilities with our partners, so I am very excited to see what fruits our ‘special relationship' will yield when our combined efforts are applied to directed energy."

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