Charles Skelton: “In studying this amendment, we find that, quite frankly, it is unnecessary and that under the Atomic Energy Act no…”

“In studying this amendment, we find that, quite frankly, it is unnecessary and that under the Atomic Energy Act no export license can be granted unless the United States Government has already negotiated a nuclear cooperation agreement with the nation receiving the equipment or the technology. These agreements are reviewed by the Congress before their implementation, thereby eliminating the need for further congressional review with each individual license. Changing licensing procedures would reward India, imposing new restrictions on peaceful nuclear trade, especially with China at this time. It would harm U.S. China relations and would perversely reward India for detonating its nuclear device and punish China for India's misdeeds. New licensing procedures that institute greater delay and greater certainty will leave China and other potential markets like Brazil to view U.S. vendors as unreliable suppliers.”