[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 150 (Tuesday, October 20, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H11685-H11687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IRAN NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION PREVENTION ACT OF 1998
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on International Relations be discharged from further consideration of
the bill (H.R. 4851) 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, and ask for its immediate
consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
[[Page H11686]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I do
not intend to object, but I want to thank the distinguished chairman of
the Committee on International Relations for assisting us in bringing
this bill to the floor today, and also the gentleman from Indiana (Mr.
Hamilton) and the leadership of both parties for agreeing to bring this
important bill to the floor by unanimous consent.
The bill sends a strong message to Iran about its efforts to develop
nuclear weapons, but, most importantly, the bill keeps U.S. taxpayer
dollars from being spent on Iranian nuclear power reactors whose
completion is supported by the IAEA and one day could help Iran develop
nuclear technology to make a nuclear weapon to be aimed at the U.S. or
its allies.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from New Jersey,
Mr. Menendez, for his perseverance on this important legislation. This
bill is similar to H.R. 3743, which was favorably reported by the
Committee on International Relations, and then passed by the House on
August 3, 1998, by a vote of 405-13.
Notwithstanding the overwhelming House vote, it is my understanding
that the Senate opposed portions of H.R. 3743. This new bill modifies
those portions of the bill and should now enjoy the support of the
Senate.
This legislation amends current law to ensure that the U.S. does not
provide funding for the completion of nuclear power reactors in Iran.
We all know that the Iranians have dedicated significant resources to
completing at least 3 nuclear power plants by 2015 and are now working
with Russian assistance to complete the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
The U.S. has opposed the completion of the reactors at the Bushehr
facility because the transfer of civilian nuclear technology and
training could help to advance Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Between 1995 and 1999 it is expected that the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) will have provided over $1.5 million for the
Iranian nuclear power program through its Technical Assistance and
Cooperation Fund. The U.S. provides annual voluntary contributions to
this fund totally $16 million in 1996.
This bill does not halt our voluntary contribution to the IAEA. But
it does require that none of our monies may be used to fund IAEA
programs and projects in Iran unless the Secretary of State certifies
that such projects are consistent with U.S. nuclear non-proliferation
and safety goals and will not provide Iran with training or expertise
relevant to the development of weapons.
This is exactly the right policy. The U.S. should not voluntarily
provide funding which would help Iran complete nuclear power reactors
that could assist them in developing their nuclear weapons program
which could pose a threat to the U.S. or its allies.
The bill also establishes two reporting requirements. One will
provide the Congress with a comprehensive report on IAEA assistance to
Iran. The second requirement directs the Secretary of State to review
IAEA programs and ensure that they are consistent with U.S. nuclear
non-proliferation and safety goals. Based on that review, the Secretary
shall direct the U.S. representative to the IAEA to oppose establishing
any programs that is not consistent with U.S. policy.
Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the bill, as follows:
H.R. 4851
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 1998''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The 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) 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.
(8) 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.
(9) In March of 1998, Russia confirmed its intention to
complete work on the two reactors at the Bushehr nuclear
power plant and agreed in principle to the construction of
two more reactors at the Bushehr site.
(10) At least one reactor could be operational within a few
years and it would subsequently provide Iran with substantial
expertise to advance its nuclear weapons program.
(11) Iran ranks tenth among the 105 nations receiving
assistance from the technical cooperation program of the
International Atomic Energy Agency.
(12) 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.
(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 ($16,000,000 in 1996) 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 makes a determination in writing to the
Committee on International Relations of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate pursuant to section 4(a)(1) of the Iran Nuclear
Proliferation Prevention Act of 1998, that such programs and
projects are consistent with United States nuclear
nonproliferation and safety goals and will not provide Iran
with training or expertise relevant to the development of
nuclear weapons.''.
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)) and shall 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 the
enactment of this Act and on an annual basis thereafter for 5
years, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the
[[Page H11687]]
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 under 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
the 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 the Congress a
report that--
(1) describes the total amount of annual assistance to Iran
from 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 THE CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that the United States
Government 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.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the
table.
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