Ellen Tauscher: “I thank Mr. Berman for his hard work with me on this issue. I commend Chairman Hyde, for whom I have tremendous…”

“I thank Mr. Berman for his hard work with me on this issue. I commend Chairman Hyde, for whom I have tremendous affection, for having this bill named after him. Mr. Chairman, the amendment that Mr. Berman and I are offering is the single strongest step Congress can take to ensure that the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with India does not lead to a nuclear arms race in South Asia. Our amendment would allow exports of nuclear reactors and other technology to India, our good friend. But it would prevent the export of nuclear reactor fuel until India has ceased production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons. The United States and the other original nuclear weapons states have all agreed to a voluntary moratorium on fissile material production. But under the bill as currently written, India will receive all of the benefits of a nuclear state under the nonproliferation treaty without being obligated to halt the production of fissile material, without having to sign a comprehensive test ban treaty, or to take other steps toward disarmament. Requiring that India commit to ceasing the production of bomb material, in exchange for all of the benefits of nuclear trade, without asking for it to take any other responsibilities of a nuclear power is the bare minimum we should require to improve United States' national security. The bill before us makes drastic exceptions to established nonproliferation rules.…”