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July 16, 2008                                                                                    www.tauscher.house.gov

Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher on the India Nuclear Deal:  "A dangerous precedent that would be impossible to erase."

Today, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) approved an India-specific waiver from its guideline requiring full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards as a condition for nuclear supply.  The NSG's decision lifts a 34-year global ban on nuclear trade with India.  Below is a statement by Congresswoman Ellen O. Tauscher, Chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee.  

Rep. Tauscher is currently leading a Congressional Delegation to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Vienna that is focused on two issues she has long advocated:  bringing the focus of America's military efforts back to defeating Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and enacting policies to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.  In Vienna, she will meet with top officials from the IAEA and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization. 

"This is a dark day for global efforts to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction.  The Nuclear Suppliers Group's decision to allow India to benefit from nuclear trade marks the first time a country that is not a member of the Nonproliferation Treaty will have the benefits of nuclear trade without any of the responsibilities.  And, this shortsighted step will ironically do very little for the American nuclear industry, as India will likely buy nuclear technology from Russia and other suppliers.

"We will not know the full extent of the damage done for some time.  By rewarding a friendly country and pushing this deal through the NSG, the Bush Administration has made it far harder to curb the South Asian nuclear arms race, undermined efforts to address North Korea and Iran's nuclear programs, and limited our ability to strengthen the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty at the 2010 Review Conference.  It's a dangerous precedent that would be impossible to erase, and I will work to block its passage through Congress."

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