[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 73 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H3761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 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 IN PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY--MESSAGE 
     FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 115-115)

  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 subsections 
123b. and 123d. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
2153(b), (d)) (the ``Act''), the text of an 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 in 
Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (the ``Agreement''). I am also pleased 
to transmit my written approval, authorization, and determination 
concerning the Agreement and an unclassified Nuclear Proliferation 
Assessment Statement (NPAS) concerning the Agreement. In accordance 
with section 123 of the Act, a classified annex to the NPAS, prepared 
by the Acting Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of 
National Intelligence, summarizing relevant classified information, 
will be submitted to the Congress separately. A joint memorandum 
submitted to me by the Acting Secretary of State and the Secretary of 
Energy and a letter from the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission stating the views of the Commission are also enclosed. An 
addendum to the NPAS containing a comprehensive analysis of the export 
control system of the United Kingdom with respect to nuclear-related 
matters, including interactions with other countries of proliferation 
concern and the actual or suspected nuclear, dual-use, or missile-
related transfers to such countries, pursuant to section 102A(w) of the 
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3024(w)), is being submitted 
separately by the Director of National Intelligence. Although not 
required by the Act, I am also transmitting an analysis and a 
determination and judgment from the Secretary of Energy concerning the 
advance, long-term approvals contained in the proposed Agreement.
  The Agreement has been negotiated in accordance with the Act and 
other applicable law. In my judgment, it meets all applicable statutory 
requirements and will advance the nonproliferation and other foreign 
policy interests of the United States.
  The Agreement contains all of the provisions required by subsection 
123a. of the Act. It provides a comprehensive framework for peaceful 
nuclear cooperation with the United Kingdom based on a mutual 
commitment to nuclear nonproliferation. It would permit the transfer of 
material, equipment (including reactors), components, sensitive nuclear 
facilities, major critical components, and information for nuclear 
research and nuclear power production. It also would allow for the 
transfer of sensitive nuclear technology if the parties later agree on 
conditions in writing.
  The Agreement has a term of 30 years, although it can be terminated 
by either party on one year's advance written notice. In the event of 
termination or expiration of the Agreement, key nonproliferation 
conditions and controls will continue in effect as long as any 
material, equipment, component, sensitive nuclear facility, or major 
critical component subject to the Agreement remains in the territory or 
under the jurisdiction or control of either party, or until such time 
as the parties agree in writing that such nuclear material or non-
nuclear material is no longer usable for any nuclear activity relevant 
from the point of view of international safeguards or have been 
practically irrecoverable, or that such equipment, components, 
sensitive nuclear facilities, or major critical components is no longer 
usable for nuclear purposes.
  As one of the five nuclear weapon states under the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, including one of the Treaty's three 
Depositary States, and one of the five permanent members of the United 
Nations Security Council, the United Kingdom holds an important 
leadership role in the global nonproliferation regime and the larger 
international security architecture. The United Kingdom is a member of 
the four major multilateral export control regimes: the Nuclear 
Suppliers Group, the Australia Group, the Missile Technology Control 
Regime, and the Wassenaar Arrangement. In addition, the United Kingdom 
has provided financial, technical, and leadership support to key 
nonproliferation mechanisms such as the Global Threat Reduction 
Program, the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, the 
Elimination of Weapons-Grade Plutonium Production Program, the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation 
Program, the IAEA Department of Safeguards, the G7 Global Partnership 
against the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and the 
Proliferation Security Initiative. A more detailed discussion of the 
United Kingdom's civil nuclear activities and its nonproliferation 
policies and practices is in the NPAS and its classified annex.
  I have considered the views and recommendations of the interested 
departments and agencies in reviewing the Agreement and have determined 
that its performance will promote, and will not constitute an 
unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security. Accordingly, I 
have approved the Agreement and authorized its execution and urge that 
the Congress give it favorable consideration.
  This transmission shall constitute a submittal for purposes of both 
subsections 123b. and 123d. of the Act. My Administration is prepared 
to begin immediately consultations with the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as provided in 
subsection 123b. Upon completion of the 30 days of continuous session 
review provided for in subsection 123b., the 60 days of continuous 
session review provided for in subsection 123d. shall commence.
                                                     Donald J. Trump.  
The White House, May 7, 2018.

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