Rings of Fire Act of 2023
This bill requires the Department of Defense to submit a strategy to Congress for deploying ground-based theater-range missiles in the Indo-Pacific region. Among other elements, the strategy must include an assessment of the gaps in conventional theater-range precision strike capabilities in the area of responsibility of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
The strategy may be submitted in classified form but must include an unclassified summary.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4485 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4485
To develop a strategy for deploying ground-based theater-range missiles
in the Indo-Pacific region, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 6, 2023
Mr. Gallagher introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To develop a strategy for deploying ground-based theater-range missiles
in the Indo-Pacific region, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rings of Fire Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. INDO-PACIFIC MISSILE STRATEGY.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The 2022 National Defense Strategy states: ``The
[People's Republic of China (PRC)] has expanded and modernized
nearly every aspect of the [People's Liberation Army (PLA)],
with a focus on offsetting U.S. military advantages. The PRC is
therefore the pacing challenge for the Department.''.
(2) The 2020 report of the Department of Defense entitled
``Annual Report to Congress Involving the People's Republic of
China'' states that--
(A) ``[t]he PRC has more than 1,250 ground-launched
ballistic missiles (GLBMs) and ground-launched cruise
missiles (GLCMs) with ranges between 500 and 5,500
kilometers. The United States currently fields one type
of conventional GLBM with a range of 70 to 300
kilometers and no GLCMs.''; and
(B) ``[i]n 2021, the [People's Liberation Army
Rocket Force] launched approximately 135 ballistic
missiles for testing and training. This was more than
the rest of the world combined excluding ballistic
missile employment in conflict zones.''.
(3) In 2019, the United States withdrew from the
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which eliminated
ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range
capability between 500 and 5,500 kilometers and their
associated launchers, due to the Russian Federation's
continuing violation of the treaty.
(4) The United States does not deploy or develop ground-
based intermediate-range missiles.
(5) In September 2021, the United States entered a security
partnership with the United Kingdom and Australia (commonly
known as ``AUKUS''). In April 2022, AUKUS leaders committed to
``commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonic
technologies, counter-hypersonic defense systems, and
electronic warfare capabilities, as well as to deepen
cooperation . . . on defense innovation.''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) United States conventional ground-based theater-range
missile systems in the Indo-Pacific region provide operational
and strategy utility in--
(A) availability of persistent, prompt, and
survivable strike options;
(B) deterrence of enemy attack or escalation;
(C) imposition of operational costs on enemy
forces;
(D) responsive strikes against time-critical enemy
targets; and
(E) destruction of high-value targets to enable
other joint forces; and
(2) an Indo-Pacific Missile Strategy should--
(A) provide coherent direction to concept and
capability development, including procurement,
deployment, and employment;
(B) distribute integrated capabilities at
operationally relevant ranges;
(C) coordinate and differentiate strike missions
among United States military services and its allies;
and
(D) pursue co-development and co-production of
capabilities with partners, including through existing
institutional mechanisms.
(c) Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the congressional defense committees (as defined in
section 101 of title 10, United States Code) a strategy for
deploying ground-based theater-range missile in the Indo-
Pacific region.
(2) Elements.--The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) An assessment of gaps in conventional theater-
range precision strike capabilities in the area of
responsibility of the United States Indo-Pacific
Command.
(B) An identification of military requirements for
conventional ground-based theater-range missile
systems, including range, propulsion, payload, launch
platform, weapon effects, and other operationally
relevant factors.
(C) An identification of prospective basing
locations in the area of responsibility of the United
States Indo-Pacific Command.
(D) A description of operational concepts for
employment, including integration with short-range and
multi-domain fires, in denial operations in the Western
Pacific.
(E) An identification of prospective allies and
institutional mechanisms for co-development of new
theater-range conventional missiles.
(F) An assessment of the cost, schedule, and
feasibility of ground-based theater-range missiles
programs, including any potential cost-sharing
structure through existing institutional mechanisms.
(G) The designation of a theater component
commander responsible for theater missile strategy.
(3) Form.--The strategy required by paragraph (1) may be
submitted in classified form but shall include an unclassified
summary.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Ground-based theater-range missile.--The term ``ground-
based theater-range missile'' means a conventional mobile
ground-launched ballistic or cruise missile system with a range
between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.
(2) Intermediate-range.--With respect to a missile system,
the term ``intermediate-range'' means a missile system with a
range between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometers.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
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