[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 142 (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8103-H8104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ATOMIC ENERGY COOPERATION AGREEMENT AMENDMENT
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 5681) to provide for the approval of 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5681
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. APPROVAL OF 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.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the provisions for
congressional consideration of a proposed agreement for
cooperation in subsection d. of section 123 of the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2153), the amendments 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, done at
Washington, July 22, 2014, and transmitted to Congress on
July 24, 2014, including all portions thereof (hereinafter in
this section referred to as the ``Amendment''), may be
brought into effect on or after the date of the enactment of
this Act as if all the requirements in such section 123 for
consideration of the Amendment had been satisfied, subject to
subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Applicability of Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and Other
Provisions of Law.--Upon coming into effect, the Amendment
shall be subject to the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act
of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) and any other applicable
United States law as if the Amendment had come into effect in
accordance with the requirements of section 123 of the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous materials on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I will share with the Members here that I rise in strong support of
this legislation to extend for another 10 years the United States-
United Kingdom Mutual Defense Agreement. This agreement has governed
our nuclear cooperation with the United Kingdom for 50 years.
As always, I appreciate the cooperation of our ranking member, Mr.
Engel of New York, for bringing this legislation to the floor. By
acting today, we will ensure that this vital cooperation with Great
Britain continues uninterrupted.
Mr. Speaker, the United States has no closer ally than the United
Kingdom. We all know that. Our societies are founded on a shared belief
in freedom and universal human rights. As a result, our close
consultation on major foreign policy issues has long been routine; and
coordinated action, frankly, is the norm between us and the U.K. We
share an unprecedented defense relationship. The advantage of that is
it has helped us secure our shared interests and values since the World
Wars of the last century. We have fought side by side in conflicts from
World War I to Afghanistan. Today, we have joined forces, along with
other partners, to battle ISIL. Our intelligence cooperation is unique.
We are both founding members of NATO. We have shouldered a
disproportionate share of the burden in NATO. We do that because we
understand that the world remains a very dangerous place, but also
because we know if we do not do so and we do not lead, no one else
will.
Our cooperation on defense includes a unique partnership on nuclear
security. This Mutual Defense Agreement is the framework through which
this partnership takes place. It enables the exchange of nuclear
materials, technology, and information that has been renewed many
times. Actually, this goes back to 1958. The bill that we will renew
here will take it for another decade to ensure that our full
cooperation on defense can continue uninterrupted.
So I urge my colleagues to support the bill to demonstrate our
unwavering commitment to the United Kingdom: a friend, a partner and
enduring ally.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of H.R. 5681. This legislation approves an
amendment, as the chairman said, to the United States-United Kingdom
Mutual Defense Agreement.
I want to begin by thanking Chairman Ed Royce for his bipartisan
leadership on this legislation, which I am proud to cosponsor.
{time} 1530
Since 1958, the U.S.-U.K. Mutual Defense Agreement has underpinned
cooperation between our two countries on defense-related nuclear
technology. The U.K. is the only country with which we share this
sensitive nuclear technology. It reflects the special relationship that
binds our countries together.
Every 10 years, this agreement has been extended to stay up to date
with new technologies and build new areas of cooperation. Now,
normally, these extensions go into effect automatically 60 legislative
days after the updated agreement is submitted to Congress. However,
this agreement will lapse on December 31, before we reach that 60-day
mark. If that were to happen, the revised agreement would have to be
resubmitted in the next Congress, the 60-day clock would reset, and,
most importantly, there would be no legal authority to continue
defense-related nuclear work with the U.K. for some period of time.
What would that mean?
First, the regular scheduled transfer of nuclear material between the
U.S. and the U.K. would grind to a halt.
Secondly, ongoing work on submarine propulsion would be interrupted,
which would affect the deployment of our ally's nuclear deterrent.
Thirdly, exchange of sensitive information that benefits both of our
nations would be delayed, including information related to threats from
other countries.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow this agreement to lapse. Passing this
bill will protect these critically important defense programs with one
of our closest allies.
I urge my colleagues to support this important bill. I just want to
reiterate the importance of passing this bipartisan, noncontroversial
legislation to ensure that there is no lapse in the U.S.-U.K. Mutual
Defense Agreement.
[[Page H8104]]
I thank the chairman, as always, for his cooperation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Engel.
I think, by moving quickly here, we can send this bill to the
President's desk.
I am proud to note, I will add, that we recognize this special
relationship in the House with the British American Parliamentary
Group, which was formed shortly after World War II, and each year
Members of Congress and Members of Parliament convene to discuss our
partnership.
Last year, Congress dedicated a bust of Winston Churchill that is
prominently displayed in this Capitol. We just had an unveiling today
of the bust for Vaclav Havel, and it will stand next to that of Winston
Churchill.
Mr. Speaker, the United Kingdom remains our closest ally and most
important security partner, and the Mutual Defense Agreement is a key
element of our unmatched special relationship, as Churchill used to
call it.
By renewing this agreement, Congress will ensure the uninterrupted
continuation of our close nuclear cooperation with the U.K. and
reinforce our joint ability to provide strategic security. So I urge my
colleagues to support the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 5681.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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