[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 105 (Thursday, July 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IRAN NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION PREVENTION ACT OF 1999

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                               speech of

                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 19, 1999

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1477, the Iran 
Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act of 1999, of which I am an original 
co-sponsor. This provision, which passed the House of Representatives 
in the 105th Congress by an overwhelming margin, would ensure that we 
hold the International Atomic Energy Agency accountable for its 
programs in Iran, and would reinforce our commitment to peace and 
stability in the Persian Gulf.
  Despite its plentiful oil and gas resources, Iran has sought for 
years to complete the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on its Persian Gulf 
coast. Iran is a notorious sponsor of international terrorism, and as 
such its plans to utilize nuclear energy should not go unchecked by the 
United States and our allies. I have little faith that a nation which 
thinks nothing of murdering innocent civilians and of rounding up 
innocent Jews and throwing them into jail on trumped-up charges 
possesses the commitment to safety that would prevent such a reactor 
from being a threat to the entire Gulf region, if not the world.
  The November 1998 pact between Iran and Russia to expedite the 
construction at Bushehr is illustrative of the urgency of this threat. 
As a nation, we need to pay close attention to the progression of this 
project, and we should ensure that we do not contribute to Iran's 
acquisition of technology or expertise during the course of this 
project which could contribute to its procurement of nuclear weapons 
know-how.
  As Iran continues to build its military arsenal--testing engines for 
ballistic missiles capable of carrying warheads to Israel and other 
nations in the region, we should make sure that our money--both 
directly and indirectly--does not help Iran's conquest of nuclear 
technology. This measure, which would withhold assistance to the IAEA 
pending certain State Department certifications, is a necessary step 
toward that goal. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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