[House Document 118-156]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




118th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - House Document 118-156
 
AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE 
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND 
    FOR COOPERATION ON THE USES OF ATOMIC ENERGY FOR MUTUAL DEFENSE 
                        PURPOSES OF JULY 3, 1958

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                  THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
                  
                              transmitting

AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND 
  THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN 
IRELAND FOR COOPERATION ON THE USES OF ATOMIC ENERGY FOR MUTUAL DEFENSE 
PURPOSES OF JULY 3, 1958, PURSUANT TO 42 U.S.C. 2153(d); AUG. 1, 1946, 
  CH. 724, TITLE I, SEC. 123 (AS AMENDED BY PUBLIC LAW 109-401, SEC. 
                       104(e)); (120 STAT. 2734)









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   July 30, 2024.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed 
                         

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                 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 
                 
49-011                    WASHINGTON : 2024 
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                                           The White House,
                                         Washington, July 29, 2024.
Hon. Mike Johnson,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, 
pursuant to section 123 d. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 2153(d)), the text of an amendment (the 
``Amendment'') to the Agreement Between the Government of the 
United States of America and the Government of the United 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Cooperation 
on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defense Purposes of 
July 3, 1958, as amended (the ``1958 Agreement'').
    I am also pleased to transmit my written approval, 
authorization, and determination concerning the Amendment. The 
joint memorandum submitted to me by the Secretaries of Defense 
and Energy providing their position on the Amendment is also 
enclosed. A separate classified addendum with additional 
material is being provided under appropriate security 
arrangements.
    The Amendment removes the expiration date of certain 
provisions of the 1958 Agreement that permit the transfer of 
certain equipment and material between the United States and 
the United Kingdom, to enable broad and enduring cooperation 
and make all provisions of the 1958 Agreement indefinite in 
duration.
    The Amendment also clarifies that Article II(A) of the 1958 
Agreement provides for the exchange of atomic information and 
other related classified information, controlled unclassified 
information, technical data and technology subject to either 
Party's export control requirements, sensitive nuclear 
technology, and controlled nuclear information, as is jointly 
determined to be necessary for the development of defense 
plans; the training of personnel in the employment of defense 
against atomic weapons; the evaluation of capabilities of 
potential enemies in the employment of atomic weapons and other 
military applications of atomic energy; the development of 
delivery systems compatible with atomic weapons; and the 
research, development, or design of military reactors.
    The Amendment's revisions to Article II(B) of the 1958 
Agreement clarify that these same types of information may be 
exchanged related to atomic weapons, including special nuclear 
materials properties and production or processing technology, 
as is determined necessary to improve the recipient's atomic 
weapon design, development, or fabrication capability.
    The Amendment also consolidates reciprocal transfers of 
equipment, information, and material associated with naval 
nuclear propulsion cooperation, including information 
designated as naval nuclear propulsion information in Article 
III of the 1958 Agreement, and makes corresponding changes in 
that Article needed to provide for reciprocity.
    The Amendment's additional revisions to the 1958 Agreement 
ensure consistency with the above-described changes as well as 
current United States and United Kingdom policies and practices 
regarding nuclear threat reduction, naval nuclear propulsion, 
and the security of the nuclear security enterprise, including 
personnel security.
    In my judgment, the Amendment meets all statutory 
requirements. The United Kingdom intends to continue to 
maintain viable nuclear forces into the foreseeable future. The 
provisions of the 1958 Agreement, as amended by the Amendment, 
are consistent in every respect with United States commitments 
to the United Kingdom regarding the development and deployment 
of the United Kingdom TRIDENT Strategic Weapon System, 
continued cooperation in nuclear propulsion programs, and 
support for the United Kingdom atomic weapon and nuclear threat 
reduction programs.
    Based on our steadfast partnership with the United Kingdom, 
and the United Kingdom's continued commitment of nuclear forces 
to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), I have 
concluded it is in the national interest of the United States 
to continue to assist the United Kingdom in maintaining a 
credible nuclear deterrent, which will further improve our 
mutual defense posture and support our collective interests 
under NATO.
    I have considered the views and recommendations of the 
interested departments and agencies and have determined that 
the performance of the Amendment will promote, and will not 
constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and 
security. Further, I have approved the program outlined in the 
Amendment and have determined that such program will promote, 
and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common 
defense and security. Accordingly, I have approved the 
Amendment, authorized its execution, and urge that the Congress 
give it favorable consideration.
            Sincerely,
                                               Joseph R. Biden, Jr.








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