Russ Feingold: “Briefly, the letter notes that there are still flaws that remain in S. 3709, and urges the Senate to adopt at least four…”

“Briefly, the letter notes that there are still flaws that remain in S. 3709, and urges the Senate to adopt at least four measures to address them. The second of their four recommendations for improvements is that there be ``a determination and annual certification that U.S. civil nuclear policy does not in any way assist or encourage India's nuclear weapons program.'' My amendment is directly in line with the advice of these leading experts, and addresses an important shortfall in the legislation as it stands now. I acknowledge that the U.S. business community has come out strongly in support of this legislation. I would only like to add a note of caution to their optimism. There is nothing in this deal that would secure U.S. contracts or guarantee an increase in U.S. business. The U.S. is not the only one in the nuclear market. Australia and Russia have already indicated they are working with India to sell fuel, and companies from Great Britain, France, and Russia have viable civil reactor technology that they will certainly pitch to India. It is far from a foregone conclusion that U.S. companies will directly benefit from the deal. In the 8 years that nuclear trade has been permitted with China, the United States has sold exactly zero nuclear reactors to China--zero.…”