[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 18, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AUTHORITY TO EXTEND THE UNITED STATES-REPUBLIC OF KOREA NUCLEAR 
                         COOPERATION AGREEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. MIKE KELLY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 17, 2013

  Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise In strong support of 
H.R. 2449, a bipartisan bill to extend the current U.S.-Korea civil 
nuclear agreement for two years.
  This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea 
alliance. Over the decades, South Korea has become a key U.S. ally in 
Asia and we stand shoulder to shoulder in political, strategic, 
military, cultural, and other issues.
  One of these crucial issues is energy. This extension will allow the 
U.S. and Korea to enter into a new era of energy partnership.
  The current nuclear cooperation agreement is due to expire in March 
2014 and its prompt extension is vital to avoid trade disruptions.
  It is critical that we uphold the reputation of the U.S. as a stable 
and reliable trading partner, in light of the energy industry's long-
lead items and use of long-term contracts for nuclear components, fuel 
and services.
  Ultimately this is about jobs: red, white, and blue American jobs. 
Billions of dollars in U.S. exports and thousands of U.S. jobs are at 
stake if we fail.
  This is about jobs for U.S. companies such as Westinghouse, which is 
headquartered in Cranberry, PA, in my own district. Westinghouse, which 
employs about 9000 employees in the U.S., has been a leader in energy 
cooperation with Korea for nearly four decades.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for this important legislation.

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