Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On the United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act During today’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee markup of the United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation, Senator Russ Feingold introduced an amendment to strengthen the legislation by including specific assurances that U.S. civilian nuclear assistance would not contribute to India’s nuclear weapons program. Although it was defeated, Feingold’s amendment received the support of five Democratic senators. A copy of the amendment is attached. Feingold released the following statement on the deal: “While I strongly support the growing relationship between our country and India, I have serious concerns about the effect this legislation would have on the proliferation of nuclear weapons and material around the world. The spread of nuclear weapons remains one of the gravest dangers that our country faces. Any agreement we enter into with India should require that U.S. nuclear assistance does not in any way support the development of nuclear weapons or damage our existing non-proliferation goals. I will work with my colleagues to strengthen the final version of the bill.”

# # #