NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Dingell, Stupak to President:
Address Proliferation Concerns before Sending Russian Nuclear Pact to Congress

Washington, D.C. – Two key lawmakers today called on President Bush to address key questions about Russian support for Iran’s nuclear and missile programs before transmitting to Congress an Agreement for Cooperation for Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy (also known as a 123 agreement, named after that section of the Atomic Energy Act) between the U.S. and Russia. Reps. John D. Dingell (D-MI), the Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Bart Stupak (D-MI), the Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, said in a letter to the President that key questions remain unanswered about Russian nuclear and missile assistance to Iran, and questioned the need and justification for this agreement, particularly if it is mainly to further the Administration’s controversial Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).

Last September, when the House of Representatives passed the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007 (H.R. 1400), it prohibited Agreements for Cooperation between the United States and any country assisting Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. The bill, which was approved by the House by a vote of 397 to16, specifically states that no such Agreement shall “be submitted to the President or to Congress” and “enter into force with such country” unless the (1) President reports that Iran has ceased its efforts to design or acquire a nuclear explosive, or (2) nuclear and missile assistance to Iran has been terminated by such country.

“Earlier this year, a Committee investigation found that U.S. taxpayers may be funding Russian institutes that are working on nuclear projects in Iran, including the Bushehr Reactor,” said Dingell. “It also appears that, in some cases, the Department of Energy’s nonproliferation program was so poorly managed that officials were unaware of the nuclear activities of Russian institutes with and in Iran until after these projects were completed. Concerns like these should be addressed before the Administration asks Congress to approve an agreement that will result in further nuclear cooperation between the United States and Russia.”

“The House has voted overwhelmingly in favor of legislation that would prohibit U.S. nuclear cooperation with countries that support the current Iranian regime’s pursuit of nuclear technologies and materials,” said Stupak. “The Administration needs to assure Congress and the American public that Russia is adhering to this legislation and no longer supporting nuclear and missile activities in Iran before sending this treaty to Congress for approval.”

Read the letter »

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