Press Releases
Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami
202-226-7616
09/27/2008
Pelosi Statement on U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation and Nonproliferation Agreement
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today following House passage of H.R. 7081, the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act, which allows India access to nuclear material in exchange for international inspections of India's civilian reactors. The legislation passed by a vote of 298 to 117:
“Today’s approval by the House of the U.S.–India nuclear cooperation agreement furthers our countries’ strategic relationship while balancing nuclear non-proliferation concerns and India’s growing energy needs. The legislation recognizes India’s past support for non-proliferation initiatives and strengthens congressional oversight of any future U.S. decision to assist India’s civilian nuclear program.
“The action by the House endorses recent decisions by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group to make India a formal part of the global non-proliferation regime and reflects a judgment by the international community that India can be an increasingly effective partner on this crucial issue in the years to come.”