[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 102 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1591-E1592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   UNITED STATES AND INDIA NUCLEAR COOPERATION PROMOTION ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2006

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5682) to 
     exempt from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 
     1954 a proposed nuclear agreement for cooperation with India:

  Ms. DeGETTE.  Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 5682, the 
``United States and India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act of 2006.''
  As the world's largest democracy in a strategically important part of 
the world, India is a critical ally for the United States. Continuing 
the process of improving our relationship is thus very important. This 
agreement, H.R. 5682, will help us build a stronger partnership with 
India by allowing the United States to provide nuclear technology and 
fuel in order that India may meet its growing energy needs.
  This agreement also is an improvement over the current situation with 
respect to India and the threat posed by the spread of nuclear weapons. 
As a nonsignatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), India 
is outside the international nuclear nonproliferation scheme. This 
agreement provides incentives to gain its cooperation because under 
H.R. 5682 the United States can only provide India nuclear assistance 
if the President certifies that India is taking certain specific steps 
to reduce the spread of nuclear weapons. These steps include the 
provision of a credible plan to separate its civilian and military 
nuclear programs, an agreement with the International Atomic Energy 
Agency (IAEA) to apply IAEA safeguards to its civilian nuclear 
apparatus, and the taking of steps to prevent the export of sensitive 
nuclear materials or technology.
  Furthermore, after the President makes the necessary certifications, 
Congress still has to approve any nuclear supply agreement with India 
before it can go forward. This provides an opportunity for Congress to 
make its own independent analysis of the extent to which India has 
followed through on its commitment to nuclear nonproliferation.
  I do have some concerns about this legislation. It does not provide 
as many protections against the proliferation of nuclear weapons as I 
would have liked. And, I would have preferred that as a condition for 
aid India would at least have been required to agree to halt or limit 
its production of fissile material used for nuclear weapons. I will 
support the amendments offered by Representatives Sherman and Berman 
which would achieve this later goal.
  Despite the fact that it is not perfect, H.R. 5682 is a net plus for 
the United States and

[[Page E1592]]

the world. This legislation and the resulting nuclear supply agreements 
with India should improve an important strategic relationship and 
reduce the likelihood nuclear weapons will fall into the hands of those 
wish to do us harm, including rogue states and terrorists.

                          ____________________