The Bill: H R 5682 (United States and India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act)
Date Passed: Nov. 16
About: This act reverses US policy, and allows India
to buy American nuclear reactors and fuel, despite the fact that India
has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has
tested nuclear weapons in 1998 and 1974.
This summer, we wrote about this bill when it was passed by the House. Yesterday, by a vote of 85-12, the bill passed the Senate. The Washington Post notes that many Democratic Senators voted for the bill, especially those "with close ties to the India lobby." Many Senators, bothered by India's close relationship with Iran, wanted to add a provision that would make the country essentially choose between cooperating with the U.S. or with Iran. But when India balked, so did the Senate.
And so, the bill ultimately will make the world a more dangerous place. India will be able to increase production of its nuclear weapons five-fold.
We live in a state with a large Indian population, and both Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez voted for this bill.
How They Voted is a regular City Belt feature breaking down how New Jersey’s congressmen voted on the bills we think are important.
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