October 2, 1998

Dear Mr. Talbott:

The International Space Station is the centerpiece of this Administration’s efforts to increase international cooperation in space. The hearing record is clear that the Administration’s 1993 decision to bring Russia into the program was a key element in its plan to promote the peaceful integration of the Russian aerospace industry into the global civilian economy. After a thorough review, and based in part on the Administration’s argument that bringing Russia into the International Space Station was justified on foreign policy grounds, the 103^rd Congress went along with the Administration’s decision.

Unfortunately, since 1995 Russia’s economic situation has precluded it from meeting all of its obligations to the International Space Station partnership in a timely manner, causing delays and cost growth with a direct impact on the American taxpayer. Similarly, it has become increasingly clear from testimony offered by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Administration’s recent sanctioning of several Russian aerospace enterprises that Russia’s aerospace industry is actively engaged in selling missile components and technologies to states that are not a party to the Missile Technology Control Regime. In the past, Congress has asked NASA about the consequences of Russian proliferation activities given its role in the International Space Station, only to be told that this was a foreign policy question about which NASA could have no comment. Now, Congress has been informed that the Administration is contemplating paying the Russian Space Agency $660 million to meet the Russian government’s obligations under the Intergovernmental Agreement you signed in January 1998 on behalf of the United States.

The Honorable Strobe Talbott

October 2, 1998

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Since you signed the Intergovernmental Agreement establishing the roles and responsibilities of the various partners in the International Space Station program and since you have been the Administration’s leading figure in developing our policy with Russia, it is entirely appropriate and necessary for you to appear before the Committee on Science on October 7^th to discuss these matters. You have the deepest background on these issues. Your expertise and experience will help members of Congress thoroughly consider the implications of Russia’s continuing failures to meet its obligations and the foreign policy consequences of a decision by the Space Station partnership to alter Russia’s role in the program in a manner more commensurate with its abilities. We strongly urge you to accept the Committee’s invitation to testify on October 7th. We will not be able to consider supporting any NASA payments to the Russian Space Agency until we have received your testimony and Congress has had the opportunity to explore the full extent and implications of our options for dealing with the systemic problems Russia is creating for the U.S. space program. Certainly a failure on your part to appear would suggest to the American people that the Administration does not care about our space program and that the State Department has little interest in addressing and resolving the problems creeping into our relationship with Russia. Your appearance is critical to creating a strong working relationship between Congress and the Administration on matters of science and technology as they affect foreign policy. Your participation in the October 7^th hearing will be necessary to advance the goals for international cooperation in space that we believe Congress and the President share.

Sincerely,

FJS/ers

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