House Democrats have introduced a resolution of disapproval aimed at blocking a civil nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia, citing concerns over potential proliferation risks.
The proposed agreement, sent to Congress by President Donald Trump in August, is currently undergoing a 90-day review period. Democrats and nonproliferation advocates have expressed reservations, arguing that the pact does not prevent Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear waste, activities that could potentially lead to the development of nuclear weapons. This stands in contrast to the United Arab Emirates' 2009 civil nuclear deal with Washington, which included stricter "gold standard" measures.
In a joint statement, Representatives Gregory Meeks, Brad Sherman, John Garamendi, and Don Beyer asserted, "A region already gripped by conflict and escalation does not need another nuclear power." The Trump administration maintains that the deal includes the legally required nonproliferation measures.
The agreement's implementation is reportedly linked to Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel, a condition President Trump has stated must be met for the pact to take effect. However, congressional aides note that the agreement itself does not explicitly address this requirement. Furthermore, members of Congress are calling for the public release of all components of the agreement, including classified "side letters" exchanged with Saudi Arabia.
The 30-year nuclear deal envisions the construction of AP1000 reactors, a project valued in the tens of billions of dollars and beneficial to Westinghouse. It remains uncertain when the House of Representatives will vote on the resolution, especially as lawmakers are not scheduled to return until after the November 3 midterm elections. Historically, while Congress has passed numerous disapproval resolutions, none concerning nuclear power or civil nuclear cooperation have successfully become law. According to Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, such agreements automatically take effect after 90 days if Congress does not pass a resolution of disapproval.
