[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
_______
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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