[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 834 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 834
To withhold voluntary proportional assistance for programs and projects
of the International Atomic Energy Agency relating to the development
and completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 20, 1999
Mr. Campbell (for himself and Mr. Sessions) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To withhold voluntary proportional assistance for programs and projects
of the International Atomic Energy Agency relating to the development
and completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, 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 ``Iran Nuclear Proliferation
Prevention Act of 1999''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Iran remains the world's leading sponsor of
international terrorism and is on the Department of State's
list of countries that provide support for acts of
international terrorism.
(2) Iran has repeatedly called for the destruction of
Israel and Iran supports organizations, such as Hizballah,
Hamas, and the Palestine Islamic Jihad, which are responsible
for terrorist attacks against Israel.
(3) Iranian officials have stated their intent to complete
at least three nuclear power plants by 2015 and are currently
working to complete the Bushehr nuclear power plant located on
the Persian Gulf coast.
(4) The United States has publicly opposed the completion
of reactors at the Bushehr nuclear power plant because the
transfer of civilian nuclear technology and training could help
to advance Iran's nuclear weapons program.
(5) In an April 1997 hearing before the Subcommittee on
Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs of the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate, the former Director of the
Central Intelligence Agency, James Woolsey, stated that through
the operation of the nuclear power reactor at the Bushehr
nuclear power plant, Iran will develop substantial expertise
relevant to the development of nuclear weapons.
(6) Construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant was
halted following the 1979 revolution in Iran because the former
West Germany refused to assist in the completion the plant due
to concerns that completion of the plant could provide Iran
with expertise and technology which could advance Iran's
nuclear weapons program.
(7) In January 1995, Iran signed a $780,000,000 contract
with the Russian Federation for Atomic Energy (MINATOM) to
complete a VVER-1000 pressurized-light water reactor at the
Bushehr nuclear power plant and in November 1998, Iran and
Russia signed a protocol to expedite the construction of the
nuclear reactor, setting a new timeframe of 52 months for its
completion.
(8) In November 1998, Iran asked Russia to prepare a
feasibility study to build 3 more nuclear reactors at the
Bushehr site.
(9) Iran is building up its offensive military capacity in
other areas as evidenced by its recent testing of engines for
ballistic missiles capable of carrying 2,200 pound warheads
more than 800 miles, within range of strategic targets in
Israel.
(10) Iran ranks tenth among the 105 nations receiving
assistance from the technical cooperation program of the
International Atomic Energy Agency.
(11) Between 1995 and 1999, the International Atomic Energy
Agency has provided and is expected to provide a total of
$1,550,000 through its Technical Assistance and Cooperation
Fund for the Iranian nuclear power program, including reactors
at the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
(12) In 1999 the International Atomic Energy Agency
initiated a program to assist Iran in the area of uranium
exploration. At the same time it is believed that Iran is
seeking to acquire the requisite technology to enrich uranium
to weapons-grade levels.
(13) The United States provides annual contributions to the
International Atomic Energy Agency which total more than 25
percent of the annual assessed budget of the Agency, and the
United States also provides annual voluntary contributions to
the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Fund of the Agency
which total approximately 32 percent ($18,250,000 in 1999) of
the annual budget of the program.
(14) The United States should not voluntarily provide
funding for the completion of nuclear power reactors which
could provide Iran with substantial expertise to advance its
nuclear weapons program and potentially pose a threat to the
United States or its allies.
(15) Iran has no need for nuclear energy because of its
immense oil and natural gas reserves which are equivalent to
9.3 percent of the world's reserves, and Iran has
73,000,000,000 cubic feet of natural gas, an amount second only
to the natural gas reserves of Russia.
SEC. 3. WITHHOLDING OF VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INTERNATIONAL
ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS IN IRAN.
Section 307 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2227)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Notwithstanding subsection (c), the limitations of subsection
(a) shall apply to programs and projects of the International Atomic
Energy Agency in Iran, unless the Secretary of State determines, and
reports in writing to the Committee on International Relations of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate, that such programs and projects are consistent with United
States nuclear nonproliferation and safety goals, will not provide Iran
with training or expertise relevant to the development of nuclear
weapons, and are not being used as a cover for the acquisition of
sensitive nuclear technology. A determination made by the Secretary of
State under the preceding sentence shall be effective for the 1-year
period beginning on the date of the determination.''.
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REVIEW BY SECRETARY OF STATE OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF
THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY; UNITED STATES
OPPOSITION TO PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF THE AGENCY IN
IRAN.
(a) Annual Review.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall undertake a
comprehensive annual review of all programs and projects of the
International Atomic Energy Agency in the countries described
in section 307(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2227(a)) to determine if such programs and projects are
consistent with United States nuclear nonproliferation and
safety goals.
(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act and on an annual basis thereafter for 5
years, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a
report containing the results of the review under paragraph
(1).
(b) Opposition to Certain Programs and Projects of International
Atomic Energy Agency.--The Secretary of State shall direct the United
States representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency to
oppose programs of the Agency that are determined by the Secretary
pursuant to the review conducted under subsection (a)(1) to be
inconsistent with nuclear nonproliferation and safety goals of the
United States.
SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act and on an annual basis thereafter for 5 years,
the Secretary of State, in consultation with the United States
representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, shall prepare
and submit to Congress a report that--
(1) describes the total amount of annual assistance to Iran
provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency, a list of
Iranian officials in leadership positions at the Agency, the
expected timeframe for the completion of the nuclear power
reactors at the Bushehr nuclear power plant, and a summary of
the nuclear materials and technology transferred to Iran from
the Agency in the preceding year which could assist in the
development of Iran's nuclear weapons program; and
(2) contains a description of all programs and projects of
the International Atomic Energy Agency in each country
described in section 307(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2227(a)) and any inconsistencies between the
technical cooperation and assistance programs and projects of
the Agency and United States nuclear nonproliferation and
safety goals in these countries.
(b) Additional Requirement.--The report required to be submitted
under subsection (a) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, to the
extent appropriate, but may include a classified annex.
SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States should pursue
internal reforms at the International Atomic Energy Agency that will
ensure that all programs and projects funded under the Technical
Cooperation and Assistance Fund of the Agency are compatible with
United States nuclear nonproliferation policy and international nuclear
nonproliferation norms.
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