Number: RL33016
Title: U.S. Nuclear Cooperation With India: Issues for Congress
Authors: Paul K. Kerr, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: U.S. nuclear cooperation is governed by the Atomic Energy Act (AEA). P.L. 109-401, which President Bush signed bill into law on December 18, 2006, provides waivers of several provisions of the AEA (Sections 123 a. (2), 128, and 129). It requires that several steps occur before nuclear cooperation can proceed. On September 10, President Bush submitted to Congress a written determination that these requirements discussed above have been met. That same day, the President submitted the text of the proposed agreement, which has not yet been signed. The President also submitted a written determination (also required by the AEA) "that the performance of the proposed agreement will promote and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security." In addition, President Bush submitted several documents, including classified and unclassified versions of a Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Statement, which is required by section 123 of the AEA. The Department of State has also submitted a report required by P.L. 109-401 on various aspects of the agreement. On September 27, 2008, the House passed H.R. 7081, which approves the agreement. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations approved identical legislation, S. 3548, September 23. The Senate passed H.R. 7081 October 1. President Bush signed P.L. 110-369 into law October 8. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and India's External Affairs Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee signed the agreement October 10, but it has not yet entered into force.
Pages: 49
Date: November 3, 2008