Fix the U.S.- India Nuclear Deal
The House is about to approve a nuclear cooperation agreement with India that would enable that South Asian nation to increase production of nuclear weapons and dangerously undermine the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). We expect this legislation, H.R. 5682, to pass with a strong majority.
But Congress can still amend the agreement to ensure that it doesn’t destroy the core elements of the NPT. Rep. Howard Berman (CA) and other legislators have proposed amendments that would enable the U.S. to expand cooperation with India without eroding years of work in which the U.S. and other countries strengthened the NPT. One amendment would require India to halt production of fissile material, the main component needed to make nuclear weapons, in exchange for greater nuclear cooperation with the United States. A second important amendment would prevent India from transferring nuclear enrichment technology to other countries.
Two key congressional committees approved H.R. 5682 the week of June 26. This legislation will likely come to the floor of the House for a vote the week of July 24. Several nonproliferation amendments have good chances of winning, especially if representatives hear from their constituents that this issue concerns them.
Take Action
Please contact your representative today. Urge her or him to support nonproliferation amendments offered by Rep. Howard Berman (CA) and others when the House considers the U.S. - India nuclear deal. These amendments would require India to agree to stop producing nuclear weapons materials and sign the NPT before the U.S. would agree to cooperate with that country.
You can find a sample message and contact your representative directly through FCNL’s website.
Background
Congress is considering dangerous legislation that would undermine the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an international agreement that prohibits the transfer of nuclear technology to countries that don’t agree to international inspections of their nuclear programs. The NPT has been signed by 188 countries (including the U.S.), but India has not signed.
The Indian government asserts that it needs this expanded cooperation to address the country’s growing energy needs and to improve the quality of life for its population. Improving relations with India and helping that country to address its energy needs are important. However, Congress could work to improve relations with India without providing the Indian government with the capacity to increase production of nuclear weapons by up to 500 percent. Congress should insist that before the U.S. signs any nuclear cooperation agreement, India should agree to:
- stop production of highly enriched uranium and plutonium – fissile materials used in the production of nuclear weapons. All five acknowledged nuclear weapons states have halted production of fissile materials;
- sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and
- sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Supporters of the deal argue that roughly 65 percent (14 out of 22) of India’s nuclear reactors will face international inspections for the first time under this new agreement. That number is accurate but misleading. Under the proposal, India could build as many military nuclear reactors as it wanted, and those reactions would not face international inspections. This deal would also, indirectly at the least, allow India to build more nuclear weapons. By providing India with nuclear fuel and technology under the new agreement, the U.S. would free India’s domestic uranium for use to produce more nuclear weapons. Under this deal, India would be able to produce up to 50 nuclear weapons per year. (Currently, it can produce six to 10 per year.)
Brent Scowcroft, National Security Advisor to Presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush; former Sen. Sam Nunn; and dozens of other prominent officials have spoken out against this deal. The New York Times and other newspapers have also editorialized against the agreement.
See a timeline of congressional action on this deal.
Find out more about the U.S. - India nuclear deal.
Read FCNL's letter of condolence to the people of India following the Mumbai bombings.
Contacting Legislators
Contact your members of Congress through FCNL's web site.
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Sen. ________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Rep. ________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Contacting the Administration
Contact the President through FCNL's web site.
White House Comment Desk:
202 456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
White House web site
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
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