On the recordJuly 13, 2016
I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I listened to my friend from Pennsylvania. There is no requirement under the agreement that Iran cannot manufacture heavy water. There is a limit on the amount that they can possess. That is why the reserves are in storage elsewhere. The amount that we are talking about now is already being shipped to the United States as we speak. Iran has a right, under the agreement, to continue producing heavy water, which it will. Where is the heavy water going to go? They can sell it on the global market. I would rather they sell it to the United States at market price than to North Korea or to Pakistan or to some other actor. This bill is misguided and misses the point. They are not violating the agreement. We are better off in having the heavy water that we need, that we don't produce, and that Canada has stopped producing that we will be able to reinforce the possibility of having a successful agreement over time. I appreciate the ranking member for giving me the opportunity to at least clarify what I think is reality.
