[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E618-E619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER RESOLUTION

                                 ______


                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 24, 1996

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution which recognizes the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl 
nuclear disaster, the worst in recorded history, and supports the 
closing of the Chernobyl nuclear powerplant. Yesterday, I chaired a 
Helsinki commission hearing that examined the devastating consequences 
of the Chernobyl disaster. That hearing, Mr. Speaker, featured the 
ambassadors of Ukraine and Belarus, the two countries most gravely 
affected by the disaster. Professor Murray Feshback of Georgetown 
University and Alexander Kuzma of the Children of Chernobyl Relief Fund 
also provided sound scientific and medical details about the public 
health crisis that exists.
  A decade ago, in the early morning hours of April 26, 1986, reactor 
No. 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear powerplant exploded, releasing into the 
atmosphere massive quantities of radioactive substances. The highest 
amount of radioactive fallout was registered in the vicinity 
immediately surrounding Chernobyl, some 60 miles north of Ukraine's 
capital, Kiev. At that time, the prevailing winds were directed north 
to northwest, so that Belarus received some 70 percent of the total 
radioactive fallout. Subsequent shifts of the wind, and rainfall, 
affected northern Ukraine, southwest Russia and beyond, with excessive 
levels of radiation recorded in northern Scandinavia, various parts of 
continental Europe, and even as far away as coastal Alaska. Estimated 
total radioactivity from the blast was 200 times more radioactivity 
than was released from the atomic bombs dropped at Hiroshima and 
Nagasaki combined.
  Ten years ago, Mr. Speaker, Chernobyl left its indelible mark on the 
world's consciousness. Given the monumental consequences of Chernobyl 
and its devastating toll on the environment and on the health of the 
surrounding

[[Page E619]]

population, this disaster must neither be forgotten nor repeated. 
Indeed, Chernobyl can never be forgotten by those most directly 
affected. The tragedy is ongoing. And with each passing anniversary, we 
uncover more and more about its devastating impact and serious 
radiological, health and socioeconomic consequences, especially on the 
populations of Ukraine, Belarus, and western Russia.
  Millions of people--including about 1 million children--in Ukraine, 
Belarus and western Russian were exposed to dangerously high levels of 
radiation. Millions continue to live in areas contaminated to one 
degree or another. Children, in particular, have experienced alarming 
increases in thyroid cancer and other conditions. These trends have 
accelerated since the disaster and are expected to increase well into 
the future. In Belarus Gomel region, for instance, which was one of the 
hardest hit areas, thyroid cancer among children is at least 200 times 
that of preaccident. Scientists differ over the extent of Chernobyl-
related diseases, but few deny that children have been hardest hit by 
the radiological aftermath. Given the devastating humanitarian, 
ecological and economic consequences, the resolution calls upon the 
President to support continued and enhanced U.S. assistance to provide 
medical relief, humanitarian assistance, social impact planning, and 
hospital development for Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and other nations 
most heavily afflicted.
  Because this disaster is the only one of its magnitude, there is much 
about its long-term health consequences we do not yet know. Among the 
most affected were the so-called ``liquidators'', the hundreds of 
thousands of people who worked to clean up after the accident. Many 
received substantial doses of radiation. Estimates vary on how many of 
them have died or become seriously ill. However, we must learn more 
about the health of those most affected by the disaster, especially the 
children who were exposed to substantial doses of radiation. The 
resolution encourages national and international health organizations 
to expand the scope of research of the public health consequences of 
Chernobyl. Such research could help not only those directly affected, 
but can also ensure that the entire world can benefit from the 
findings.

  By supporting assistance and research efforts, we will be doing our 
part to help overcome the devastating legacy of Chernobyl. 
Unfortunately, there are still 15 RBMK, Chernobyl-type reactors still 
being utilized in the former Soviet Union, most of them in Russia. The 
international community can help Ukraine and Russia improve the safety 
of their nuclear reactors, especially since Ukraine relies 
substantially on nuclear power for its energy needs.
  Mr. Speaker, one very important component of this resolution is that 
it urges Ukraine to continue its negotiations with the G-7 to implement 
the December 20, 1995 memorandum of understanding which calls for all 
nuclear reactors at Chernobyl to be shut down in a safe and expeditious 
manner by the year 2000. The resolution calls upon the President to 
support the process of closing Chernobyl as envisioned by the MOU.
  The signatories to the MOU recognize the tremendous costs involved in 
closing down Chernobyl and its impact on a country undergoing the 
unbelievably difficult transition from communism to a market-oriented 
democracy. Ukraine devotes more of its resources to dealing with the 
Chernobyl aftermath than for its military. According to testimony from 
the Belarusian Ambassador, Belarus is compelled to spend year in and 
year out up to 25 percent of its budget to try to cope with the 
aftermath of Chernobyl. In response, the G-7 has thus far committed 
some $3 billion in loans and grants to assist with the closure of 
Chernobyl. Recognizing the country's dire energy situation, equally 
important is the G-7's broader cooperation with Ukraine to impose 
market discipline on its inefficient energy sector and make it more 
rational. Moreover, the MOU recognizes the implications--for the 
thousands of workers and their families--of closing the Chernobyl 
plant.

  The Chernobyl nuclear disaster marks a tragic milestone in the 
history of Ukraine, Belarus, and the world. This week we commemorate 
the 10th anniversary of this nuclear explosion, one of the most bitter 
legacies of Soviet communism. The legacy has had tremendous and 
mounting human costs. Its environmental, medical, social, political and 
economic consequences continue to have a profound impact on countries 
in the region, especially on Ukraine and Belarus and western Russia, 
which bore the brunt of Chernobyl's radioactive fallout.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution which is also being introduced in the 
Senate is important and timely. I am joined by my colleagues Rep. Ben 
Gilman, Rep. Frank Wolf, Rep. Ben Cardin, Rep. Ed Markey, Rep. Matt 
Salmon, Rep. Bob Torricelli, Rep. Sander Levin, Rep. David Bonior, Rep. 
Richard Durbin, and Rep. Luis Guttierez in introducing this resolution 
and I urge our colleagues to support the measure.

                          ____________________