Waiving Points Of Order Against Conference Report On H.R. 5682, Henry J. Hye U.S.-India Peacerul Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006

WAIVING POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 5682, HENRY J. HYDE U.S.-INDIA PEACEFUL ATOMIC ENERGY COOPERATION ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - December 08, 2006)

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Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Massachusetts for yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and in strong support of the U.S.-India Nuclear deal conference report. I would like to thank Chairman Hyde and incoming Chairman Lantos for their hard work to help ensure passage of this bill after the agreement was announced. I would also like to thank the House and Senate conferees who negotiated throughout the night to reconcile differences and reach a compromise.

The U.S. has an important strategic partnership with India, and this civilian nuclear cooperation deal is a critical component to a continued successful partnership. The agreement strengthens energy security for the U.S. and India, and promotes the development of stable and efficient energy markets in India to ensure adequate and affordable supplies.

This deal is also the foundation of a promising U.S.-India alliance that will serve as a defense against terrorism and nuclear proliferation. The U.S. has an important stake in ensuring regional stability in South Asia, even as Pakistan continues to produce and test nuclear weapons without proper safeguards.

With the rising power of Communist China in the region and Osama bin Laden continuing to hide in Afghanistan or Pakistan, we need India as our strategic ally. The bill before us today has a new policy that will solidify the U.S.-India bilateral relationship. India has been a responsible nuclear power and deserves to be treated that way.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on both the rule and the conference report

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