The Virtual Office of Congresswoman Jane Harman - News - HARMAN JOINS HOUSE COLLEAGUES TO PASS PAKISTAN AID BILL Lawmaker says "We need to be clear-eyed about the opportunities -- and the risks"


HARMAN JOINS HOUSE COLLEAGUES TO PASS PAKISTAN AID BILL Lawmaker says “We need to be clear-eyed about the opportunities – and the risks”	September 30, 2009
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA) today spoke on the House floor in support of the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (S.1707). The bill authorizes $1.5 billion in foreign assistance to Pakistan, makes any U.S. security assistance contingent upon the Secretary of State’s certification that Pakistan is continuing to combat terrorist groups and dismantle nuclear proliferation networks. The Senate passed identical legislation last week and the president is expected to sign it. The following is Harman’s statement as prepared for delivery: “I rise in support of this legislation and to thank Chairman Berman and a bipartisan group on his committee for including language in the original House bill and the Committee’s report reflecting many of the concerns I have about nuclear proliferation in Pakistan. Regrettably, some of that language is not in this compromise, though I applaud the insertion of section 302. Pakistan poses one of the most complex foreign policy challenges facing the United States today. It sits at the intersection of vital security interests, from terrorism, to nuclear proliferation, to the war in Afghanistan. A secure and stable Pakistan is of critical importance to the United States. And yet, with a large al-Qaeda presence, a vibrant Taliban insurgency, and widespread political unrest, that stability is anything but guaranteed. Recent news reports suggest that the city of Quetta is becoming a new stronghold for the Taliban. Our extremely capable Ambassador, Anne Patterson, says that “our intelligence on Quetta is vastly less, we have no people there, no cross-border operations, no predators.” The stakes are truly high. Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. In March, I worked with the Chairman to incorporate language that would guarantee U.S. investigators access to individuals suspected of proliferation activities. While that language is not in this bill, this bill does make security-related assistance contingent upon Pakistan’s help dismantling proliferation networks and combating terrorist groups. A few weeks ago, a Pakistani court lifted the requirement that A.Q. Khan – mastermind of the most notorious nuclear-smuggling ring – remain under police escort when traveling around the country. Just recently, Khan boasted to the press that the government of Pakistan was complicit in his past activity. It is my hope that the aid authorized by this bill will persuade President Zardari and his government to do more to crack down on proliferation offenders and become better partners in stabilizing the country. This bill is a large, five-year down payment on long-term success in Pakistan. We need to be clear-eyed about the opportunities – and the risks.” ###
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HARMAN JOINS HOUSE COLLEAGUES TO PASS PAKISTAN AID BILL

Lawmaker says “We need to be clear-eyed about the opportunities – and the risks”