[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 56 Referred in House (RFH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 56


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 4, 1996

          Referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the tenth anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, 
    and supporting the closing of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

Whereas April 26, 1996, marks the tenth anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear 
        disaster;
Whereas United Nations General Assembly resolution 50/134 declares April 26, 
        1996, as the International Day Commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of 
        the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident and encourages member states 
        to commemorate this tragic event;
Whereas serious radiological, health, and socioeconomic consequences for the 
        populations of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, as well as for the 
        populations of other affected areas, have been identified since the 
        disaster;
Whereas over 3,500,000 inhabitants of the affected areas, including over 
        1,000,000 children, were exposed to dangerously high levels of 
        radiation;
Whereas the populations of the affected areas, especially children, have 
        experienced significant increases in thyroid cancer, immune deficiency 
        diseases, birth defects, and other conditions, and these trends have 
        accelerated over the 10 years since the disaster;
Whereas the lives and health of people in the affected areas continue to be 
        heavily burdened by the ongoing effects of the Chornobyl accident;
Whereas numerous charitable, humanitarian, and environmental organizations from 
        the United States and the international community have committed to 
        overcome the extensive consequences of the Chornobyl disaster;
Whereas the United States has sought to help the people of Ukraine through 
        various forms of assistance;
Whereas humanitarian assistance and public health research into Chornobyl's 
        consequences will be needed in the coming decades when the greatest 
        number of latent health effects is expected to emerge;
Whereas on December 20, 1995, the Ukrainian Government, the governments of the 
        G-7 countries, and the Commission of the European Communities signed a 
        memorandum of understanding to support the decision of Ukraine to close 
        the Chornobyl nuclear power plant by the year 2000 with adequate support 
        from the G-7 countries and international financial institutions;
Whereas the United States strongly supports the closing of the Chornobyl nuclear 
        power plant and improving nuclear safety in Ukraine; and
Whereas representatives of Ukraine, the G-7 countries, and international 
        financial institutions will meet at least annually to monitor 
        implementation of the program to close Chornobyl: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes April 26, 1996, as the tenth anniversary of 
        the Chornobyl nuclear power plant disaster;
            (2) urges the Government of Ukraine to continue its 
        negotiations with the G-7 countries to implement the December 
        20, 1995, memorandum of understanding which calls for all 
        nuclear reactors at Chornobyl to be shut down in a safe and 
        expeditious manner; and
            (3) calls upon the President--
                    (A) to support continued and enhanced United States 
                assistance to provide medical relief, humanitarian 
                assistance, social impact planning, and hospital 
                development for Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and other 
                nations most heavily afflicted by Chornobyl's 
                aftermath;
                    (B) to encourage national and international health 
                organizations to expand the scope of research into the 
                public health consequences of Chornobyl, so that the 
                global community can benefit from the findings of such 
                research;
                    (C) to support the process of closing the Chornobyl 
                nuclear power plant in an expeditious manner as 
                envisioned by the December 20, 1995, memorandum of 
                understanding; and
                    (D) to support the broadening of Ukraine's regional 
                energy sources which will reduce its dependence on any 
                individual country.

            Passed the Senate April 25, 1996.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.