House Democrats Seek to Block Trump-Saudi Nuclear Deal

Four House Democrats — Gregory Meeks, Brad Sherman, John Garamendi and Don Beyer — introduced a resolution of disapproval Thursday to block President Donald Trump's civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia. Trump sent the proposal to Congress in August, opening a 90-day review window. The lawmakers said the pact lacks an explicit ban on uranium enrichment or spent fuel reprocessing and "dangerously departs from decades of nonproliferation standards." In a joint statement they said, "A region already gripped by conflict and escalation does not need another nuclear power." The UAE's 2009 gold-standard deal included those restrictions. The agreement includes feasibility studies on uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia. The 30-year pact calls for AP1000 reactors worth tens of billions of dollars, a project from which Westinghouse could benefit. Contested: The Trump administration says the deal contains nonproliferation safeguards required by law. Trump has said the pact will only take effect if Saudi Arabia normalizes relations with Israel; congressional aides say the agreement itself does not address this. On Wednesday, Sens. Edward Markey, Jeff Merkley, John N. Kennedy and Paul demanded release of two classified side letters from Rubio and Wright. Speaker Mike Johnson the same day sent House members home until after the Nov. 3 midterms, leaving any vote timing unclear.