To authorize the President to extend the term of the Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Korea Concerning Civil Uses of Nuclear Energy for a period not to exceed March 19, 2016.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2449) to authorize the President to extend the term of the Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Korea Concerning Civil Uses of Nuclear Energy for a period not to exceed March 19, 2016.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, over the past six decades, the United States and South Korea have built a strong and enduring alliance, which is the cornerstone of peace, the cornerstone of security in the Asia-Pacific region.

Ever since the dark days of the Korean war, our two nations have stood side by side to meet some of today's most pressing challenges. The alliance between our two countries is a model for global partnership in every field, whether it's in the economic field or political or concerning security.

And earlier this year, my good friend, the ranking member, and I led a bipartisan delegation to South Korea to reaffirm our Nation's steadfast commitment to the good people of South Korea. It was during this visit that we witnessed the tremendous sacrifice that South Koreans made in order to live in freedom.

The ranking member and I stood by the wreckage of the naval ship Cheonan, paying our respects to the 46 South Korean sailors who perished as a result of the unprovoked North Korean attack, a poignant reminder of the constant threat that our two nations face.

When Madame Park Geun-hye, the first woman to be elected President of South Korea, addressed a joint session of Congress, she honored the deep sacrifice that Americans have made in protecting her beloved nation. I was pleased to serve on the host committee when she visited the Congress.

Madam Park and her delegation were warmly received when in southern California as part of her official visit to the United States.

Today, South Korea is at the forefront of global innovation, with the world's 13th largest economy; and as a result of the landmark U.S.- South Korea trade agreement, South Korea is our seventh largest trading partner.

One of the most important areas of our close economic cooperation is commerce and, particularly, commerce in nuclear energy. And that is why, Mr. Speaker, it is so important that the Congress approve this piece of legislation before us today.

South Korea's nuclear energy sector is extensive. It's critically important to its economy. Its 23 operating reactors produce one-third of the nation's electricity. In an effort to secure greater energy independence, the government plans to double this figure over the next two decades, with 11 more power plants to be completed.

Much of South Korea's nuclear infrastructure is of American origin, and U.S. businesses provide millions of dollars' worth of spare parts and services every year to that nation. That is one of the reasons expansion of this vital sector will be good for the U.S. economy as well.

South Korea also plans to become a major nuclear exporter in the international market. Given the truly global nature of this industry, American suppliers stand to make considerable gains as well.

For example, in 2009, a consortium of Korean companies was selected to build four nuclear power reactors in the United Arab Emirates, a deal worth $20 billion. Of this total, American companies will earn up to $2 billion for this project alone through sales of equipment and of services. It is estimated that this one project will support 5,000 jobs in 17 States.

The ability of American companies to export to South Korea's nuclear power sector rests upon our two countries' 40-year-old nuclear cooperation agreement, which expires on March 19, 2014. The U.S. and South Korean negotiators are currently negotiating a long-term extension of this agreement.

But to prevent an unnecessary interruption that would have a major negative impact on our alliance with South Korea and on U.S. exporters alike, Ranking Member Engel and I introduced this bipartisan legislation to extend the existing agreement for 2 years, to March 19, 2016. The State Department is in support of this legislation.

Testifying earlier this year on behalf of an extension, a top State Department official told the House Foreign Affairs Committee:

An extension would also ensure there is no lapse in our

ongoing civil nuclear cooperation, preserving stability and

predictability in our joint commercial activities.

This bill is a simple extension of the existing agreement--with no modifications or changes--that will allow negotiators time to focus on substance instead of the clock.

The Foreign Affairs Committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill, which now has a total of 41 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation so that it can be sent to the Senate and then on to the President for his signature and thereby ensure that the cooperation between our two countries in this vital area can continue without interruption.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), chairman emeritus of the Foreign Affairs Committee, who currently chairs the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa.

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

Mr. Speaker, I think we have one final Member who wishes to speak on this. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins), a member of the Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, and the Oversight Committees.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I just want to stand in solidarity with the remarks of Mr. Meeks of New York. We're both in complete agreement here, as we've discussed in the past, about how vital this relationship is with South Korea. It is one that, for decades, we've stood side-by-side as South Korea and the United States have tried to promote policies in that region in defense of freedom, to support democracy, to support human rights, and, at the same time, to support economic growth. I think it is just as important that we stand together to extend the U.S.-South Korea civilian nuclear energy agreement.

So I would urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. I think it is critical not only to our friend and ally, but I would say, without this bill, tens of thousands of American workers would be at a grave disadvantage. This bill extends, without modification, the existing agreement between the U.S. and South Korea for 2 additional years so that the current negotiations can continue uninterrupted.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2449, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I'd like to begin by thanking my good friend, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce, and the ranking member, Eliot Engel, for their work on this bipartisan legislation.

The current U.S.-South Korea civil nuclear cooperation agreement, also known as a ``123 agreement,'' allows the U.S. and South Korea to work together on peaceful uses of nuclear energy. That agreement is set to expire next year. Because our two countries have not yet completed negotiations for a new agreement, H.R. 2449 allows a 2-year extension of the existing agreement to provide more time for the two sides to come to an agreement.

An extension would help ensure that there's no lapse in our ongoing civil nuclear cooperation, preserving stability and predictability in our joint commercial activities. South Korea is a vital economic and security partner of the United States, and passing this bill would help ensure that we maintain the strongest possible relationship with our trusted ally.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2449 enjoys wide bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

In closing, let me again thank the chair and the ranking member for their hard work. I listened to the chair talk about his trip and what he and the ranking member observed, as well as the information they brought back to the subcommittee and the committee. It is so tremendously important. It highlights the importance of our great ally, South Korea.

We recently passed a trade agreement with South Korea because we worked together and were able to create jobs through that trade agreement, not only in South Korea, but here in America. This is an example of what can be accomplished when you work together and try to make sure there's no lapse in our ongoing civil nuclear cooperation. It shows that we can work collectively to make sure individuals use nuclear forces for the good of mankind and make sure that there is power in their communities.

I'm delighted today to join in a strong bipartisan manner to support H.R. 2449. I ask all of my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 2449, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our gracious chairman for the time.

I rise in full support of H.R. 2449, an important bipartisan bill that will extend the U.S.-South Korea civilian nuclear energy agreement for another 2 years.

South Korea is indeed an important ally of the United States, and our bilateral relationship is a cornerstone of America's national security interests in Asia. By passing this stopgap measure, Mr. Speaker, we will avoid the expiration of the original 40-year agreement and allow the United States and South Korea to continue to negotiate on a renewed agreement in good faith.

If we do not pass this bill, the current agreement will expire early next year. This would not only cause damage to the U.S.-South Korea relationship, but it will also harm the United States manufacturers who provide parts and services to South Korea's energy industry and will negatively impact the technological, safety, and nonproliferation efforts of both of our countries in the civilian nuclear energy sector.

Mr. Speaker, South Korea has become a major user of domestic nuclear power, with the partnership of American technology. Nuclear power provides about one-third of all of South Korea's electricity, and South Korea is looking to even further expand that percentage. They are looking to the United States and American businesses to help them achieve their goals.

South Korea's partnership with America for civilian nuclear projects already has resulted in billions of dollars for our economy and has created thousands of jobs. Continued cooperation with South Korea would bring more revenue to America and create much-needed jobs for Americans. But this can only happen, Mr. Speaker, if our two countries can negotiate a long-term agreement.

I thank the chairman.

They cannot negotiate this when they're constantly watching the clock, which I should have done as well. Passing this bill will give them the much-needed time to focus on the negotiations and finally come to a mutually beneficial agreement.

So I urge my colleagues to support this strong bipartisan and much- needed bill that will help the U.S. economy, U.S. jobs, and strengthen the alliance between the United States and our key trading partner in South Korea.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise today as a strong supporter and cosponsor of H.R. 2449, legislation to extend for 2 additional years the existing U.S.-South Korea civilian nuclear energy agreement.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, it's my strong belief that passage of this legislation is in the national interest of the United States and also in the vital interest of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.

Earlier this year, we held a hearing in our subcommittee to examine the facts behind the current nuclear energy agreement with South Korea and why it needs to be extended. Simply put, the agreement with South Korea strengthens America's nonproliferation priorities, it helps to create American jobs in the energy sector, and it's an important symbol of our long friendship with South Korea.

I want to commend my colleague from California (Mr. Royce), the chairman of the full committee, and also the ranking member of the committee from New York, Eliot Engel, for introducing this bipartisan legislation.

America's friendship with South Korea is stronger today than probably at any other moment in our history. Forged on the cold, dark battlefields of the Korean war, this year's 60th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance marks a significant milestone in our ever- growing relationship. There is no doubt it has indeed become the cornerstone of peace and security in East Asia. In fact, it is the enduring, relevant, and forward-looking qualities of our alliance that makes today's consideration of this bill, H.R. 2449, so important.

Today in South Korea, a once war-torn nation has become a world-class economy and leader in high-tech innovation. Its commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in a region where these ideals are oftentimes hard to come by is a testament to the trust we have in our ally and friend, South Korea.

I once again thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for putting this particular legislation together. I would like to join them in urging my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent during the week of September 16, 2013. If I were present, I would have voted on the following.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013: rollcall No. 460: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3092, ``yea''; rollcall No. 461: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2449, ``yea''; rollcall No. 462: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass S. 793, ``yea''.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013: rollcall No. 463: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question providing for consideration of H.R. 761, ``nay''; rollcall No. 464: On Agreeing to the Resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 761, ``no''; rollcall No. 465: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 301, ``yea''; rollcall No. 466: Lowenthal of California Amendment No. 1, ``aye''; rollcall No. 467: Veasey of Texas Amendment No. 2, ``aye''; of rollcall No. 468: Connolly of Virginia Amendment No. 3, ``aye''; rollcall No. 469: Hastings of Florida Amendment No. 4, ``aye''; rollcall No. 470: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 761, ``aye''; rollcall No. 471: Final Passage of H.R. 761, ``no''.

Thursday, September 19, 2013: rollcall No. 472: Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.J. Res. 59, ``nay''; rollcall No. 473: On Agreeing to the Resolution providing for consideration of H.J.Res. 59, ``nay''; rollcall No. 474: On Agreeing to the Resolution providing for consideration of H.R. 687, ``nay''; rollcall No. 475: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 3102, ``yea''; rollcall No. 476: On Passage of H.R. 3102, ``nay''.

Friday, September 20, 2013: rollcall No. 477: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.J. Res. 59, ``yea''; rollcall No. 478: On Passage of H.J. Res. 59, ``no''; rollcall No. 479: Daines of Montana Part C Amendment No. 1, ``no''; rollcall No. 480: McClintock of California Part C Amendment No. 3, ``no''; rollcall No. 481: McClintock of California Part C Amendment No. 5, ``no''; rollcall No. 482: Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 1526, ``aye''; rollcall No. 483: On Passage of H.R. 1526, ``no''.