U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions

Sessions said although there are proposed cuts in missile defense, he vowed to continue working with the delegation to restore funding, especially given the threat currently being posed by North Korea

“I am reminded of what Gen. James Cartwright [Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] said about our missile defense system. If North Korea launched a missile at America, he said that he was more than 90 percent sure we could knock it out of the air.”

He reminded the audience that on the Fourth of July in 2006, North Korea tested a long-range missile and said that he would not be surprised if they did it again this year.

Sessions said that support for a national missile defense has been expressed by members of both parties. The senator went into some of the ways he discusses the importance of missile defense.

“We talk a lot about North Korea and Iran. We also talk about how much we have invested over the decades,” he said. "I don't think that's smart to be within reach of a complete system that could protect us with confidence and not take the last step is really unacceptable."

As the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sessions is preparing for the national spotlight as the Senate Supreme Court hearing for Judge Sonia Sotomayor will begin shortly. Sotomayor, judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals Second Circuit , is President Barack Obama’s pick to replace Supreme Court Justice David Souter. Sessions said he is preparing for a fair, objective review.

“She [Sotomayor] is delightful. I enjoyed meeting her. We will do everything in our power to ensure that she gets a thorough hearing,” he said. “A Supreme Court nominee is not a little thing. It only takes five judges to change our Constitution. We will look at the nominee fairly and objectively to make sure that we have not eroded classical jurisprudence.”

Sessions ended his address by taking questions from the audience. When asked about the economy, Sessions said that America will bounce back if law makers use sound economic policy.

“America always finds its way. The economy goes in cycles. We have had bubbles and we have had bursts and we don’t need to be so panicked,” Sessions said. “If we are not abandoning good economic policy and sound management, I think we can come out of this.”