[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 18 (Thursday, February 24, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S755-S757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IRAN NONPROLIFERATION ACT OF 1999--Resumed

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on the 
passage of H.R. 1883.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The yeas and nays have been requested. Is 
there

[[Page S756]]

a sufficient second? There appears to be.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on the engrossment and third 
reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I want to express my ardent support for 
passage of the Iran Nonproliferation Act. It is very likely that this 
legislation will pass the Senate by a margin matching or nearing the 
unanimous 419 to 0 vote in the House of Representatives last September.
  The importance of this legislation should not be lost amid the 
widespread acclamation with which it will be sent to the President. 
This bill is aimed at controlling the transfer or sale of technology 
and expertise to Iran, especially from Russia, that will assist in its 
development of weapons of mass destruction and missiles designed to 
deliver these weapons.
  This is a very real, very well-documented and very serious security 
concern for the United States and Israel, our nation's most-trusted 
ally in the Middle East. The Central Intelligence Agency has reported 
Iran has the capability to launch a missile that will reach Israel, and 
it is well known that Iran is pursuing development of nuclear, chemical 
and biological weaponry.
  The Iran Nonproliferation Act provides for biannual reports on who 
around the world is transferring prohibited technology or information 
to Iran, and allows the President to take action against persons or 
entities found to be engaged in such activity. This bill also includes 
new steps to ensure the Russian Space Agency, which is a partner with 
NASA in the International Space Station project, is complying with 
Russia's official Iran anti-proliferation policy.
  Media reports on the Iran election, held only days ago, show an 
encouraging shift in the attitudes of the Iranian people, a trend that 
we should applaud and encourage. Unfortunately, the structure of the 
Iranian government and its police services may well frustrate the will 
of the Iranian people, and the quest of its armed forces for weapon and 
missile technology proceeds apace. I look forward to the day on which 
Iran will be a good and peaceful neighbor. That day may be closer, but 
it has not yet arrived.
  This bill is a necessary step towards our goal of nonproliferation 
and certainly merits a high level of bipartisan support, as well as the 
signature of President Clinton.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise to support the Iran 
Nonproliferation Act.
  We are faced with an historic opportunity to send a strong message to 
nations around the world--we will not sit by idle as goods, services or 
technology are transferred to Iran that contribute significantly to its 
ability to develop nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or ballistic 
or cruise missiles.
  This legislation provides the Administration with useful tools to 
combat the spread of dangerous weapons technology and to discourage 
nuclear proliferation. It also enhances U.S. efforts to monitor Iranian 
proliferation.
  This legislation demonstrates our commitment to prevent the 
proliferation of dangerous nuclear weapons to countries that threaten 
our national security as well as the security of allies--such as Israel 
and Europe. The Middle East is of vital strategic importance to the 
U.S.--and our interests and Israel's security are threatened by the 
continuing build-up of advanced conventional weapons by `rogue regimes' 
in the region. For this reason, U.S. support for Israel must go beyond 
economic and military aid to Israel--it must meet the very real 
challenges that will face Israel and the United States in this new 
century, such as limiting the threats of weapons of mass destruction. 
It is well documented that technology provided to Iran increases its 
ability to develop its own intermediate range ballistic missile that is 
capable of reaching Israel as well as our European allies. By limiting 
Iran's access to such technology we can better protect these countries 
as well as our own troops in the Middle East and Europe.
  The people of Iran demonstrated in their recent elections an 
overriding desire to move away from the extremism of the previous 
government toward reform and moderation in the future--but it is too 
early to tell what this change will mean in practice. I hope that it is 
a sign that Iran will end its missile program and its support for 
international terrorism. But despite this positive step, the Iran 
Nonproliferation Act is still vital to combat the spread of dangerous 
weapons technology and, in particular, to monitor nuclear weapons 
proliferation to Iran.
  This legislation also sends a strong message to Russia that U.S. aid 
and scientific collaboration will be limited if Russia doesn't stop 
missile proliferation to Iran. U.S. funding will be substantially 
limited unless the President certifies that the Russian Space Agency is 
not transferring technology to Iran.
  As the ranking member of the VA-HUD subcommittee that funds the space 
program, I have been a strong supporter of the International Space 
Station. I supported Russia's participation in the space program for 
three reasons:
  One, their technical expertise;
  Two, to build stronger links between the United States and Russia; 
and
  Three, to ensure that Russian scientists and engineers had civilian 
work--so they would not sell their skills to rogue governments.
  Russia has failed to live up to its promises on the space station. I 
have no question of Russia's technical competence. But I have strong 
concerns about its failure to meet its end of the bargain. Russia has 
not adequately funded its share of the space station, resulting in 
delays and a cloud of uncertainty that hovers over the entire program.
  Even more troubling is Russia's role in the proliferation of weapons 
of mass destruction. Russia has exported technology, material and 
expertise to help Iran develop ballistic missiles. These missiles could 
carry chemical, nuclear or biological weapons--which could reach any 
target within about 800 miles of Iran.
  Russia's former Prime Minister Chernomyrdin promised to end this 
assistance. We need to make sure the new Russian government fulfills 
this promise. I recognize that Acting Russian President Vladmir Putin 
has been receptive to restricting companies that sell missile 
technology and equipment to Iran. I hope his intentions are translated 
into action. Otherwise, our cooperation with Russia--both in space and 
elsewhere--may end.
  We live in a dangerous world--where terrorists and rogue nations are 
developing the most repugnant weapons of mass destruction. Our action 
today will send a clear message to our allies and to our adversaries. 
By coming together to support this bipartisan legislation, we will 
demonstrate our unified commitment to limit nuclear proliferation and 
to create a safer more stable world.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will now 
vote on passage of H.R. 1883.
  The yeas and nays have been ordered. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk called the roll.
  Mr. NICKLES. I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Mr. McCain) is 
necessarily absent.
  Mr. REID. I announce that the Senator from Montana (Mr. Baucus) is 
necessarily absent.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber 
who desire to vote?
  The result was announced--yeas 98, nays 0, as follows:

                      [Rollcall Vote No. 12 Leg.]

                                YEAS--98

     Abraham
     Akaka
     Allard
     Ashcroft
     Bayh
     Bennett
     Biden
     Bingaman
     Bond
     Boxer
     Breaux
     Brownback
     Bryan
     Bunning
     Burns
     Byrd
     Campbell
     Chafee, L.
     Cleland
     Cochran
     Collins
     Conrad
     Coverdell
     Craig
     Crapo
     Daschle
     DeWine
     Dodd
     Domenici
     Dorgan
     Durbin
     Edwards
     Enzi
     Feingold
     Feinstein
     Fitzgerald
     Frist
     Gorton
     Graham
     Gramm
     Grams
     Grassley
     Gregg
     Hagel
     Harkin
     Hatch
     Helms
     Hollings
     Hutchinson
     Hutchison
     Inhofe
     Inouye
     Jeffords
     Johnson
     Kennedy
     Kerrey
     Kerry
     Kohl
     Kyl
     Landrieu
     Lautenberg
     Leahy
     Levin
     Lieberman
     Lincoln
     Lott
     Lugar
     Mack
     McConnell

[[Page S757]]


     Mikulski
     Moynihan
     Murkowski
     Murray
     Nickles
     Reed
     Reid
     Robb
     Roberts
     Rockefeller
     Roth
     Santorum
     Sarbanes
     Schumer
     Sessions
     Shelby
     Smith (NH)
     Smith (OR)
     Snowe
     Specter
     Stevens
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thurmond
     Torricelli
     Voinovich
     Warner
     Wellstone
     Wyden

                             NOT VOTING--2

     Baucus
     McCain
       
  The bill (H.R. 1883), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to 
lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

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