    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [December 18, 2006]
    [Pages 2196-2198]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing the Henry J. Hyde United
    States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006
    December 18, 2006

        Thank you all. Welcome; please be seated. Thanks for coming. Welcome
    to the White House. Today I have the honor of signing a bill that will
    strengthen the partnership between the world's two largest democracies.
    The relationship between the United States and India has never been more
    vital, and this bill will help us meet the energy and security
    challenges of the 21st century. I want to thank the Congress for
    delivering this historic bill to my desk. I'm look forward to signing
    it.
        The Henry Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy
    Cooperation Act passed with strong bipartisan support. It is a fitting
    tribute to its sponsor and the man whose name it carries. During his 32
    years in Congress, Chairman Hyde earned the respect of his colleagues on
    both sides of the aisle. I appreciate his effective and principled
    leadership. I wish him all the very best in his retirement.
        I'm proud to be joined here by Secretary of State Condi Rice. This bill would not have happened without her
    leadership. I thank very much the Members of the Senate and the House
    who have joined us up here, people from both parties who worked hard to
    get this bill passed: Senator Bill Frist and
    Senator Dick Lugar and Senator George
    Allen; Congressman Gary Ackerman; Frank Pallone; Joe
    Crowley; Thad

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    McCotter. Thank you all for joining us.
    Thanks for your good work.
        I appreciate our Ambassador, David Mulford, and wife, Jeannie, for
    joining us. Thanks for your good work, Ambassador. I'm also proud to be
    joined by Ambassador Jassal. I want to
    thank you for coming, Ambassador.
        I thank the Indian American community leaders who are here today.
    The Indian American community was vital to explaining this strategic
    bill to our fellow citizens. I appreciate so very much your carrying the
    message not only here at home but in India. And I want you to know that
    your voice was very effective, and I welcome it.
        The United States and India are natural partners. The rivalries that
    once kept our nations apart are no more, and today, America and India
    are united by deeply held values. India is a democracy that protects
    rule of law and is accountable to its people. India is an open society
    that demands freedom of speech and freedom of religion. India is an
    important ally in the war against extremists and radicals. Like America,
    India has suffered from terrorist attacks on her own soil. And like
    America, India is committed to fighting the extremists, defeating their
    hateful ideology, and advancing the cause of human liberty around the
    world.
        The United States and India are working together to expand economic
    opportunities in both our countries. India's economy has more than
    doubled in size since 1991, and it is one of the fastest growing markets
    for American exports. If you visit India today, you are going to see a
    lot of people using goods and services made by American companies, and
    that helps raise the standard of living not only in India but here at
    home. Trade is good for both countries, and we're going to continue to
    work with India to promote free and fair trade.
        In our meetings in Washington and in New Delhi, Prime Minister
    Singh, for whom I have a lot of respect, we
    discussed the importance of working together to meet the energy needs of
    our growing economies. We recognize that energy, clean energy is going
    to be important to the advancement of our economies. And on my visit to
    India earlier this year, we concluded an historic agreement that will
    allow us to share civilian nuclear technology and bring India's civilian
    nuclear program under the safeguards of the IAEA. This cooperation will
    help the people of India produce more of their energy from clean, safe
    nuclear power, and that, in turn, will help their economy grow. And it's
    in our interest that the Indian economy continue to grow. It helps make
    America more secure.
        As part of the agreement, the United States and India have committed
    to take a series of steps to make nuclear cooperation a reality, and
    we're going to fulfill these commitments. The bill I sign today is one
    of the most important steps, and it's going to help clear the way for us
    to move forward with this process. The bill is going to help us achieve
    four key goals.
        First, the bill will help us strengthen cooperation between India
    and United States on one of the most important challenges in the 21st
    century, and that is energy. India is now the world's fifth largest
    consumer of energy, and its demand for electricity is expected to double
    by 2015. The United States has a clear interest in helping India meet
    this demand with nuclear energy. By helping India expand its use of safe
    nuclear energy, this bill lays the foundation for a new strategic
    partnership between our two nations that will help ease India's demands
    for fossil fuels and ease pressure on global markets.
        Second, the bill will help promote economic growth. This bill helps
    open a new important market for American businesses by paving the way
    for investment in India's civilian nuclear industry for the first time
    ever. This new trade will help American companies gain new customers
    abroad and create new jobs here at home.

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        Third, the bill will help make it possible for India to reduce
    emissions and improve its environment. Today, India produces nearly 70
    percent of its electricity from coal. Burning coal produces air
    pollution and greenhouse gases, and as India's economy has grown,
    emission levels have risen as well. We must break the cycle, and with
    nuclear power, we can. We can help India do so, and we can do so here at
    home by the use of nuclear power.
        Nuclear power is the one source of energy that can generate massive
    amounts of electricity without producing any air pollution or greenhouse
    gases. And by sharing advanced civilian nuclear technology, we will help
    our friend India meet its growing demand for energy and lower emissions
    at the same time.
        Finally, the bill will help keep America safe by paving the way for
    India to join the global effort to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
    India has conducted its civilian nuclear energy program in a safe and
    responsible way for decades. Now, in return for access to American
    technology, India has agreed to open its civilian nuclear power program
    to international inspection. This is an important achievement for the
    whole world. After 30 years outside the system, India will now operate
    its civilian nuclear energy program under internationally accepted
    guidelines, and the world is going to be safer as a result.
        The bill I'm about to sign is evidence of the growing bonds of trust
    between our two countries. Congress acted quickly and passed it with
    overwhelming bipartisan support. You know why? Because the American
    people have come to see India as a friend. And I view the Prime
    Minister as a trustworthy man and a friend. I
    appreciate Prime Minister Singh's leadership on this very important
    issue. I look forward to continuing to work with him to make civil
    nuclear cooperation a reality.
        And now it is my honor to sign the Henry J. Hyde United States-India
    Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:46 a.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Raminder Singh Jassal, Deputy
    Chief of Mission, Embassy of India; and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of
    India. H.R. 5682, approved December 18, was assigned Public Law No. 109-
    401.