Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “The Administration has been moving full speed ahead on its negotiations with Saudi Arabia regarding a potential 123 nuclear cooperation agreement, and unfortunately, Congress has been left mostly in the dark. The potential ramifications, including proliferation and the easing of enrichment and reprocessing restrictions, highlight the need for long-needed reforms to the outdated Congressional review process. This hearing will provide subcommittee members with an opportunity to assess the status of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear plans, the implications if the U.S. agrees to a deal below the so-called gold standard, and legislative options to increase Congressional oversight so that the U.S. can ensure national security interests always take precedence over political or commercial considerations in any future nuclear agreement.”

Opening Statements

Witnesses

Mr. Henry Sokolski
Executive Director
The Nonproliferation Policy Education Center
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Mr. William Tobey
Senior Fellow
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The John F. Kennedy School of Government
Harvard University
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Ms. Sharon Squassoni
Research Professor of the Practice of International Affairs
Institute for International Science and Technology
Elliott School of International Affairs
George Washington University
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

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Hearing transcript (PDF)