Second. the United States has not exported antipersonnel mines since 1992. produced antipersonnel mines since 1997. or used anti personnel mines since 1991. This is not a weapon we need. Moreover. for the past decade the Department of Defense has been developing alternatives to landmines. The goal has been to replace mines that cannot distinguish between an enemy combatant and a U.S. soldier. an innocent child. a farmer or a refugee. That program has produced manintheloop technology that is ready to be deployed In a new generation of mines that are not victimactivated. I have long supported this program and I commend the Department of Defense for its support for the development of this technology.