[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H927-H928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     OPPOSE FRANCE'S NUCLEAR TESTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentleman from Washington [Mr. McDermott] is recognized 
during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I urge your support for a letter which 
will be delivered to French President Jacques Chirac when he arrives in 
Washington this week.
  Our letter expresses our support for France's decision to end its 
recent series of nuclear testing, as well as our concern about the 
long-term damage caused by the tests in the first place.
  Our letter is simple and to the point: while we oppose France's 
series of nuclear tests that began this past September, we ask that the 
French Government permanently close its testing facilities and 
immediately begin a comprehensive cleanup operation.
  France's decision to conduct a series of tests prior to enacting a 
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is hypocritical and lacks the 
sound judgment of a country that aspires to world leadership.
  By continuing with these unlawful tests, France undermined its 
credibility in the world community. We are now forced to question the 
French Government's reliability in what they say is their commitment to 
eliminate nuclear weapons.

[[Page H928]]

  We implore France to join the United States and other nuclear powers 
to immediately push for, and complete negotiations, for a Comprehensive 
Test Ban Treaty.
  Much is at stake. If the nations involved do not seize this 
opportunity to reach agreement on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty 
soon, the world's best and perhaps last chance to end nuclear testing 
may slip through our fingers.
  I hope you will join me and Congressman Markey in sending a message 
to France that the United States objects to their series of nuclear 
tests, and that an agreement should be reached as soon as possible on 
the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

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