[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 160 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 UNITED STATES-INDIA NUCLEAR COOPERATION APPROVAL AND NONPROLIFERATION 
                            ENHANCEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my reluctant 
support for the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and 
Nonproliferation Enhancement Act.
  I support this legislation because, on balance, I think it advances 
U.S. national security and other national interests. I do so 
reluctantly because of the risk that it weakens our efforts to prevent 
the proliferation of nuclear material and nuclear technology.
  I ultimately support this measure for three major reasons:
  First, this agreement will create more international supervision of 
India's nuclear fuel cycle than there would be without it. India and 
the International Atomic Energy Agency have agreed to new safeguards 
for Indian civilian nuclear plants. In addition, over the last 30 years 
India has voluntarily imposed safeguards on its nuclear program and has 
established an excellent record on non-proliferation. While India is 
not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it has 
maintained strict controls on its nuclear technology and has 
demonstrated that it is committed to being a responsible nuclear 
steward. That is one the reasons that the 45 nation Nuclear Suppliers 
Group granted India a waver to permit it to purchase fuel and 
technology.
  Second, India is a country with a large, well-established, 
multicultural and multireligious democracy. Building a strategic 
relationship with India will further our interests in the region and 
send a strong signal that responsible conduct is recognized. India's 
conduct stands in stark contrast to that of North Korea, which is a 
signatory of the NPT but has violated its responsibilities under that 
agreement by building and testing nuclear weapons.
  Third, this bill is important for how it may impact India's growing 
contribution to global warming. India's economy is growing rapidly, 
swelling at more than 7 percent per year. That economic growth is fed 
by a voracious appetite for electricity. More than half of India's new 
power supplies come from coal. Displacing coal use in India with 
nuclear power could prevent the release of millions of tons of carbon 
dioxide each year into the atmosphere.
  Last, in recent weeks, secret correspondence between the White House 
and Congress has further clarified the U.S. position on many important 
questions about this deal. Assistant Secretary Bergner wrote 
Representative Tom Lantos in January of this year and stated in no 
uncertain terms that the United States will not sell sensitive nuclear 
technologies to India and would immediately terminate the agreement if 
India conducted a nuclear test.
  For these reasons, I will support this agreement. But I support it 
with the caveat that, in the event that India tests a nuclear weapon, I 
will actively and strongly work to terminate the agreement.

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