[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 81 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6698-S6699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROBERTS:
  S. 2194. A bill to amend the Arms Export Control Act to provide the 
President with discretionary authority to impose nuclear 
nonproliferation controls on a foreign country; to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations.


                  nuclear nonproliferation legislation

 Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill that 
gives the President full discretionary authority to address the nuclear 
tests recently conducted by India and Pakistan. My bill does not 
require the severe mandatory sanctions imposed on India and Pakistan be 
removed. Nuclear proliferation is a deadly serious issue. The actions 
of India and Pakistan deserve a strong response from the United States 
and the rest of the world.

[[Page S6699]]

  Sanctions are only one of several policy tools. Obviously, one of the 
best policy weapons we have available is hard-nosed diplomacy to 
prevent such nuclear incidents from occurring in the first place.
  The President must have full flexibility to implement a strong 
foreign policy that addresses the recklessness of Pakistan, India or 
any other nation that defines the world community. However, the 
Administration should be able to do so without the constraints of a 
Congressionally mandated list of sanctions. This flexibility should 
also include the authority to remove sanctions when appropriate or when 
in the best interest of the United States.
  Under current law, the United States must impose specific and 
mandatory sanctions on any non-nuclear weapons state that receives or 
detonates a nuclear device. This mandated action removes the 
President's authority to custom-tailor sanctions and set them for a 
specific period of time. These constraints dangerously restrict the 
President's ability to respond to world events.
  My bill provides the Administration with discretionary authority over 
sanctions placed on nations that practice nuclear proliferation. The 
President and his diplomatic corp are given the authority to either 
impose or not impose sanctions. They can decide the degree of 
sanctions. They can later remove or modify any sanctions. Additionally, 
the President is required to report his intentions to Congress within 
30 days of informing the violating country of the sanctions. If it 
disagrees, Congress remains free to react legislatively.
  This bill represents an important step toward what I hope will be a 
critical debate regarding U.S. foreign policy. Unilateral sanctions 
rarely achieve their goals. Instead, they damage U.S. businesses and 
workers. They diminish U.S. strength and prestige in international 
affairs. They generate resentment from allies and competitors alike.
  I would remind you that we now have in place unilateral sanctions 
against more than 70 nations representing almost three-fourths of the 
world's populations. Those are markets lost to the American economy.
  Congress and the Administration must now work together to reassess 
all instances where unilateral sanctions are imposed. This bill 
represent an excellent step in the right direction.
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