House Proceeding 03-24-09 on Mar 24th, 2009 :: 0:58:50 to 1:03:50
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0:58:40 to 1:02:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Adam B. Schiff

0:58:44 to 0:59:06( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: between north korea and serious nascent nuclear program and we are still unraveling the tes of the nuclear smuggling ring five years after it was uncovered. this is not a new problem. illicit nuclear material has been intercepted in transit out of the former soviet union many times since the end of the cold war, and the material we catch is surely just a small fraction

0:59:07 to 0:59:28( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: of the total amount trafficked. lasteek, it was written in requests newsweek" quote the only thing that can keep nuclear bombs out of the hands of terrorists is a brand new science of nuclear during the cold war we forestalled a nuclear attack with the threat of retaliation. but the decentralized flexible terror networks we face today

0:59:29 to 0:59:49( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: are not as easily deterred. a terrorist attack will also not leave a missile contrail pointed back toward those responsible. as allison writes, the key to a new deterrent is coming up with some way of tracing the nuclear material backward from an explosion in new york city, for example, to the reactor that forged the fissile

0:59:50 to 1:00:11( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: to the minds that yielded the original uranium ore. the nuclear forensics and atribbution act is designed to do just that. the act is aimed at decisionmakers in north korea, pakistan, iran, and elsewhere who could sell nuclear material as welas the smugglers and corrupt officials around the world who could steal it. those parts of the nuclear

1:00:12 to 1:00:34( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: network can be deterred by the knowledge that if their material is found, the u.s. will find out and hold them responsible. the first part of this bill expands our ability to determine the source of nuclear material by authorizing the national technical nuclear forensics center and the department of homeland security.

1:00:35 to 1:00:55( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: . this will ensure an efficient combined response when nuclear materials intercepted or god for bid, used in -- forbid, used in a weapon. it brings in new radiochemists and fizzists to help with the

1:00:56 to 1:01:16( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: work force. -- physicist to help with the work force. the strength of nuclear forensics depends on the strength of our database. nuclear material can come from many nations. some friendly, some unfriendly, and the individual recipes are closely guarded secrets. however, little of the information needed for

1:01:17 to 1:01:37( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: forensics is of direct use to adversaries, so in many cases the risks of not sharing the data is greater than the risk of sharing it. may i minutes? mr. carney: i yield 90 seconds. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. the schiff: the bill asks the president to enter into

1:01:38 to 1:01:58( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: agreements with other nations to share forensic data. this effort is vital and the national technical forensic center must play a key role to make sure that the data we obtain is key to response. nuclear terrorism is a vague threat of devastating consequence, and, therefore,

1:01:59 to 1:02:19( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: difficult to guard against. but as communications and transportation revolutions brings us ever closer to our allies, they bring us closer to our enemies as well. i believe this bill will help make sure that our ability to prevent a nuclear attack keeps up with our enemy's -- enemies' ability to prosecute one.

1:02:20 to 1:02:21( Edit History Discussion )

Adam B. Schiff: again, i want to thank chairman

1:02:22 to 1:02:43( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: thompson for his leadership and urge all members to support the bill and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from california. mr. lungren: mr. speaker, at this time i'd be happy to grant two minutes to the gentleman from texas, mr. mccaul. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized for two minutes. mr. mccaul: thank you, mr.

1:02:25 to 1:04:30( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Michael T. McCaul

1:02:44 to 1:03:07( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: speaker. and i thank the gentleman from california. i rise today in support of h.r. 730, the nuclear forensics and atrish ution act. this act -- an -- attribution act. it is a necessary component of our defense as it could deter states from aiding terrorists' efforts from carrying out nuclear terrorism.

1:03:08 to 1:03:29( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: and one need only to look at the a.q. con network to iran, north korea, pakistan, to know how important this bill and this provision is. in the last congress we held hearings on this bill and the emerging threats, cybersecurity subcommittee of which i was a member.

1:03:30 to 1:03:50( Edit History Discussion )

Michael T. McCaul: i would like to thank my good friend, mr. schiff, to incorporate some of our suggestions, including a provision that i requested to provide scholarships and fellowships for those pursuing careers in technical and nuclear forensics. as we all know, america needs to incentivize more young people to go into highly technical provisions such as