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16 May 2000

Text: House International Relations Committee on North Korea Oversight

(Bill would ban sales of U.S. nuclear technology to N. Korea) (450)
The U.S. House of Representatives has endorsed legislation authored by
Representative Ben Gilman (Republican of New York), Chairman of the
House International Relations Committee, and Representative Ed Markey
(Democrat of Massachusetts) that would ensure no nuclear equipment or
technology is transferred to North Korea without Congressional review
and approval
The "Congressional Oversight of Nuclear Transfers to North Korea Act
of 2000," H.R. 4251, passed on the Floor of the House May 15 by a vote
of 374-6.
Following is the text:
(begin text)
HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE
PRESS RELEASE
May 16, 2000
HOUSE PASSES GILMAN-MARKEY NORTH KOREA OVERSIGHT BILL
WASHINGTON (May 16) - The U.S. House of Representatives has endorsed
legislation authored by Rep. Ben Gilman (R-NY), Chairman of the House
International Relations Committee, and Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) that
would ensure no nuclear equipment or technology is transferred to
North Korea without Congressional review and approval.
The "Congressional Oversight of Nuclear Transfers to North Korea Act
of 2000," H.R. 4251, passed on the Floor of the House yesterday by a
vote of 374-6.
"North Korea is one of the most dangerous, unpredictable nations in
the world today," said Gilman. "We have an obligation to ensure that
any nuclear equipment or technology provided to that nation be done so
only with the most careful scrutiny."
H.R. 4251 amends the North Korea Threat Reduction Act to require that
Congress concur in any certification submitted by the President
pursuant to that Act before a nuclear cooperation agreement between
the United States and North Korea can enter into effect.
When the House considered similar legislation last year, the
Administration opposed the congressional approval process, citing the
lack of expedited procedures for legislative consideration in both the
House and the Senate. Expedited legislative procedures of a joint
resolution concurring in the President's certification have been
included in H.R. 4251.
"I am pleased that we are able to move forward with this bipartisan
legislation. I believe that by working with the minority and with the
Rules Committee, we have been able to meet many of the
Administration's concerns and have produced a bill that will benefit
our foreign policy," said Gilman.
The legislation was also supported by the Chairman of the Subcommittee
on Asia and the Pacific, Rep. Doug Bereuter (R-NE), the Chairman of
the Republican Policy Committee, Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA), as well as a
former member of the International Relations Committee, Rep. Dennis
Kucinich (D-OH).
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)