[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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