Sensenbrenner, Jackson Lee, Goodlatte, Conyers Introduce Bill to Implement Nuclear Terrorism Treaties

Washington, D.C. – Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.) today introduced the Nuclear Terrorism Conventions Implementation and Safety of Maritime Navigation Act (H.R. 1056). This bipartisan bill implements certain provisions of four multilateral counterterrorism treaties concerning the use of weapons of mass destruction or attacks involving ships and maritime platforms. It enhances U.S. national security by modernizing and strengthening the international counterterrorism and counter proliferation legal framework and improves multilateral efforts to combat terrorism and nuclear proliferation. The treaties are widely supported, including by the U.S. Departments of State, Justice, and Defense. Additionally, the House of Representatives passed this same legislation in both the 112^th and 113^th Congresses. Below are statements from Subcommittee Chairman Sensenbrenner, Subcommittee Ranking Member Jackson Lee, Chairman Goodlatte, and Ranking Member Conyers on the introduction of this bill. Subcommittee Chairman Sensenbrenner: “To effectively combat terrorist threats we need both a domestic and international comprehensive legal framework. Advancing this legislation will ensure the United States stays at the forefront of global counterterrorism and counter-proliferation efforts.  These measures will improve homeland security and promote international cooperation. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation so these important multilateral agreements can finally be ratified.” Subcommittee Ranking Member Jackson Lee: “I am pleased to join my colleagues on this important legislation which enhances national security by modernizing and strengthening the legal framework to combat terrorism and proliferation of dangerous materials. The four treaties underlying this legislation are the cornerstones of an important effort to update international law for the post-September 11th era. Two of the treaties, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and the Convention for the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, require party nations to better protect nuclear materials and to punish acts of nuclear terrorism. The two other treaties, amendments to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms, address the use of ships and fixed platforms in terrorist attacks, as well as the transport of weapons, weapons delivery systems, and terrorist fugitives by sea. The United States signed these treaties in 2005. The Senate passed resolutions of advice and consent on all four in 2008.  In an era where we increasingly rely on our allies to combat terrorism, these new treaty obligations are also plain common sense.  Members of this Committee have been committed to their ratification from the very start and I look forward to quickly moving it forward.”  Chairman Goodlatte: “The United States has signed several treaties to strengthen our national security and combat terrorism and nuclear proliferation, and it’s past time that we implement them. Almost every day, we are reminded that terrorism is a real threat and that our enemies wish us and our allies harm. The United States must lead the global effort to fight terrorism so that we protect our citizens and national security interests. This bipartisan legislation will help us do just that.”  Ranking Member Conyers: “The Nuclear Terrorism Conventions Implementation and Safety of Maritime Navigation Act, is designed to implement four multilateral counterterrorism treaties, each an important update to existing international law. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on this bipartisan bill that will strengthen national security and reinforce global efforts to combat terrorism and nuclear proliferation.” Summary of H.R. 1056:  The bill amends various provisions of the federal criminal code to implement the obligations of certain treaties to which the United States is a party. The treaties are:

• The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism: This treaty was signed by President Bush on behalf of the United States on September 14, 2005.  It requires the U.S. to criminalize certain unlawful acts relating to the possession and use of radioactive material and radiological dispersal devices and damage to nuclear facilities.

• An amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material: This amendment was adopted at a diplomatic conference on July 25, 2005 and requires the U.S. to criminalize nuclear smuggling and sabotage of nuclear facilities.

• The 2005 Protocol to the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation: This treaty requires parties to criminalize the use or targeting of a ship or a fixed maritime platform in an act of terrorism. The Protocol forbids certain maritime terrorism acts and the maritime transport of biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons or their components, delivery means, or materials, under specified circumstances. It also forbids the maritime transport of terrorist fugitives.

• The 2005 Protocol to the 1988 Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf: This treaty criminalizes terrorist acts involving a fixed maritime platform.