WASHINGTON – Representatives Edward J. Markey (D-MA), co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation and chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, along with 9 other bipartisan cosponsors, introduced a bill, H.R. 6298, to block President Bush from moving forward with any nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia and calling on the White House to stop asking the American consumer to foot the bill for Saudi Arabia’s nuclear ambitions.
When the president visited Saudi Arabia last month, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice agreed to help the country develop nuclear reactors, train nuclear engineers and a construct nuclear infrastructure, despite Saudi Arabia's unmatched oil reserves and virtually unlimited solar energy capacity.
"Why does Saudi Arabia, the most energy-rich nation on the face of the planet, with the largest oil reserves in the world and huge potential for renewable electricity generation, need nuclear power? The answer is simple: It doesn't," said Rep. Markey.
"This is not a political issue; this is a national security issue. We've already seen the extraordinarily high cost of spreading so-called ‘peaceful' nuclear technologies around the world: we've been paying that price for decades. The United States simply cannot afford to make this kind of mistake again."
In addition to Reps. Markey and Ros-Lehtinen, original co-sponsors on H.R. 6298 include Reps. Brad Sherman (D-CA), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, Eric Cantor (R-VA), Chief Deputy Minority Whip, Jim McGovern (D-MA), Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Dan Burton (R-IN), Barney Frank (D-MA) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) will be introducing the same bill on the Senate side.
The bill prevents the administration from moving forward with any kind of transfer of nuclear power technology to Saudi Arabia. Since Saudi Arabia appears to be interested in additional energy resources, the bill also encourages the president to establish a solar power development and assistance program with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
"Let's be honest: The Saudis need nuclear power like they need more sand. Our country should not help the Saudis acquire nuclear know-how, but rather assist the Kingdom with the development of a renewable energy infrastructure that capitalizes on solar, another indigenous energy advantage the Saudis enjoy," Rep. Markey concluded.
For the full text of H.R. 6298, please click HERE .
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 19, 2008 |
CONTACT: Jessica Schafer, 202.225.2836 |
