National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. SHERMAN. I thank the chairman and the ranking member for including my amendment in this en bloc.

Section 3119 of the bill, as reported from the Armed Services Committee, seeks to deal with a significant issue that has come to light regarding some commercial nuclear transfers.

The potential for some U.S. reactor technology to be diverted by recipient countries with naval programs is a serious concern that needs to be addressed. Section 3119 begins that process. My amendment is designed to improve it.

There has been discussion in the press and in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the renewal of the China 123 agreement that China would divert U.S. nuclear technology to its naval program, particularly with regard to the propulsion of naval vessels.

My amendment would streamline the process by which we would license technology under a 123 agreement. It would also provide that Congress should be notified whenever there is substantial evidence that the 123 agreement, a nuclear cooperation agreement, has been violated, as, perhaps, when nuclear technology is diverted for military purposes, including the propulsion of naval vessels.

Most importantly, we know that China has not yet taken the steps it needs to take to prevent proliferation. My amendment adds a requirement that, when we are going to license the transfer of nuclear technology to Beijing, we can do that only if there is a certification that China is taking the steps necessary to prevent proliferation to Iran and other problem countries.

I look forward to our using our nuclear cooperation with China on civilian matters to prod them into a nonproliferation policy that makes sense for the safety of the world.

I thank the chairman and his staff for working closely with my staff in crafting this amendment, and I thank the ranking member and chair for including this in the en bloc.

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