[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 117 (Thursday, July 24, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H6797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF 
 AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND 
   NORTHERN IRELAND FOR COOPERATION ON THE USES OF ATOMIC ENERGY FOR 
MUTUAL DEFENSE PURPOSES OF JULY 3, 1958--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF 
                THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 113-137)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message 
from the President of the United States; which was read and, together 
with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs and ordered to be printed:

To the Congress of the United States:
  I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, pursuant to section 123 d. 
of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the text of an amendment 
(the ``Amendment'') to the Agreement Between the Government of the 
United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Cooperation on the Uses of 
Atomic Energy for Mutual Defense Purposes of July 3, 1958, as amended 
(the ``1958 Agreement''). I am also pleased to transmit my written 
approval, authorization, and determination concerning the Amendment. 
The joint unclassified letter submitted to me by the Secretaries of 
Defense and Energy providing a summary position on the unclassified 
portions of the Amendment is also enclosed. The joint classified letter 
and classified portions of the Amendment are being transmitted 
separately via appropriate channels.
  The Amendment extends for 10 years (until December 31, 2024), 
provisions of the 1958 Agreement that permit the transfer between the 
United States and the United Kingdom of classified information 
concerning atomic weapons; nuclear technology and controlled nuclear 
information; material and equipment for the development of defense 
plans; training of personnel; evaluation of potential enemy capability; 
development of delivery systems; and the research, development, and 
design of military reactors. Additional revisions to portions of the 
Amendment and Annexes have been made to ensure consistency with current 
United States and United Kingdom policies and practice regarding 
nuclear threat reduction, naval nuclear propulsion, and personnel 
security.
  In my judgment, the Amendment meets all statutory requirements. The 
United Kingdom intends to continue to maintain viable nuclear forces 
into the foreseeable future. Based on our previous close cooperation, 
and the fact that the United Kingdom continues to commit its nuclear 
forces to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, I have concluded it 
is in the United States national interest to continue to assist the 
United Kingdom in maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent.
  I have approved the Amendment, authorized its execution, and urge 
that the Congress give it favorable consideration.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, July 24, 2014.

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