[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 25 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
[Pages 1071-1072]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress Transmitting an Amendment to the United Kingdom-
United States Agreement for Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for 
Mutual Defense Purposes

June 14, 2004

To the Congress of the United States:

    I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, pursuant to section 123d. 
of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the text of an 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, and my written approval, 
authorization, and determination concerning the agreement. The joint 
unclassified letter submitted to me by the Secretaries of Energy and 
Defense that provides a summary position on the Amendment is also 
enclosed.
    The Amendment extends for 10 years (until December 31, 2014) 
provisions that permit the transfer of nonnuclear parts, source, 
byproduct, special nuclear materials, and other material and technology 
for nuclear weapons and military reactors, and revises text, principally 
in the Security Annex, to be consistent with current policies and 
practices relating to personnel and physical security.
    In my judgment, the proposed Amendment meets all statutory 
requirements. The United Kingdom intends to continue to maintain viable 
nuclear forces. In light of our previous close cooperation and the fact 
that the United Kingdom has committed its nuclear forces to the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization, I have concluded that it is in our 
interest to continue to assist them in maintaining a credible nuclear 
force.
    I have approved the Amendment, authorized its execution, and urge 
that the Congress give it favorable consideration.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 June 14, 2004.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this message.

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