On February 16th, Senators Tom Cotton, (R-Arkansas), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) introduced the Intermediate- Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) Preservation Act. This piece of legislation, along with a companion piece introduced by Congressmen Ted Poe (R-Texas) and Mike Rogers (R-Alabama) into the House of Representatives, calls for the United States to develop an INF-ranged ground-launched cruise missile systems, with the intended purpose of coaxing Russia back into compliance with the INF treaty. It would also accelerate funding for missile defense assets, with emphasis on cruise missile defense. The bill comes in response to Russia’s deployment of a ground-launched intermediate-range cruise missile in violation of the 1987 INF Treaty. According to Senator Cotton, “If Russia is going to test and deploy intermediate range cruise missiles, then logic dictates that we respond. Pleading with the Russian regime to uphold its treaty obligations won’t bring it into compliance, but strengthening our nuclear forces in Europe very well might. We’re offering this legislation so we can finally put clear, firm boundaries on Russia’s unchecked aggression.”