Jeff Bingaman: “I will briefly describe the Bingaman amendment. It is an amendment that puts into effect the recommendations Senator…”

“I will briefly describe the Bingaman amendment. It is an amendment that puts into effect the recommendations Senator Nunn made in his op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal in May of this year. It says that as to nuclear equipment and technology, before we can export or reexport to India nuclear equipment or technology, the President must first determine that both India and the United States are taking specific steps to conclude a fissile material cutoff treaty. Second, the amendment says that before any nuclear materials fuel can be exported to India, the President must determine that India has stopped producing fissile materials for weapons. This is a reasonable amendment. This does not kill the deal, as I would see it. This is something which India has stated a willingness to generally abide by. I think this is the least we can insist upon. I hope very much my colleagues will support this amendment.”