[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 17, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         STOLEN NUCLEAR SECRETS

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, this New York Times headline says it all: 
``China Stole Nuclear Secrets for Bombs, U.S. Aides Say: Espionage Case 
at New Mexico Lab is Said to be Minimized by the White House.''
  Why would a case that intelligence experts consider to be worse than 
Aldrich Ames be minimized by the White House?
  The reason is clear to all those who have followed the campaign 
finance scandal of 1996. It would also be clear to all those who 
followed the administration's China policy.
  First, when this scandal came to light in 1995, and then more 
conclusively in April of 1996, the White House was under fire for 
taking campaign cash from the Communist Chinese army.
  Second, this stunning revelation of nuclear espionage would have 
threatened the administration's policy of what they call engagement 
with Communist China.
  That is why the White House would have a clear incentive to avoid 
notification of Congress and to reject the clear evidence that our most 
sensitive nuclear secrets have been stolen.

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