Dennis Kucinich: “as Congressman Markey just said, as this proposal now stands, there is nothing stopping India from using more and more…”

“as Congressman Markey just said, as this proposal now stands, there is nothing stopping India from using more and more of its domestic uranium for weapons program. Without the safeguards provided by the Sherman amendment, India could produce dozens more nuclear weapons per year under the U.S.- India deal, which would surely lead to an arms race with neighboring rival Pakistan. Mr. Chairman, I am a great supporter of India and of stronger U.S.- India relations. India is the world's largest democracy. It has contributed measurably to the legacy of peace of the great leader Mahatma Ghandi. India's long-standing goal of universal nuclear disarmament has not been acknowledged enough in this debate This proposal will be harmful to security in India, in the region and the world. And this proposal will be harmful to the people of India in that it could escalate an arms race between India and Pakistan. I support Representative Sherman's amendment, which requires the President to certify annually that India is not dedicating more domestic uranium to its weapons program, as a condition for the U.S. to cooperate with India on nuclear technology. Pakistan wants a deal with the U.S. on nuclear technology, but the U.S. has refused. Instead, Pakistan has turned to China for this technology.…”