[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4074-S4075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 56--RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                     THE CHORNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER

  Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. Dole, Mr. Helms, Mr. Pell, and Mr. 
Levin) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 56

       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 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.

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to submit a resolution to 
commemorate the 10th anniversary of one of the most tragic, devastating 
events in the history of nuclear power--the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. 
The resolution also expresses Congress' unequivocal support for the 
closing of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. I am pleased that 
Senators Dole, Helms, Pell, and Levin are joining me in submitting this 
resolution.
  Friday, April 26, 1996, marks the 10th anniversary of the world's 
worst nuclear accident. Ten years ago, nuclear reactor No. 4 at 
Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant malfunctioned. The ensuing 
explosion and fire spewed a cloud of radiation across Europe, releasing 
200 times more radioactivity than the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and 
Nagasaki combined.
  The results were devastating. Millions of people were exposed to 
dangerously high levels of radiation.
  Chernobyl's legacy is much more than the worst technological disaster 
in the history of nuclear power. It is a continuing humanitarian 
tragedy that will always be remembered the world over. The inhabitants 
of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia continue to be heavily burdened by the 
social, economic, and health effects of the accident, and the entire 
international community continues to be threatened by the specter of 
another Chernobyl.
  Ten years ago, millions of Ukrainians, Belarussians, and Russians, 
including over one million children and thousands of people who cleaned 
up after the explosion, were exposed to dangerously high levels of 
radiation. A 30-kilometer radius around Chernobyl was rendered 
uninhabitable. Families were forced from their homes. Most have never 
returned.
  The tragic effects of this disaster have devastated millions. A 200-
fold increase in thyroid cancer among children has ensued. Immune 
deficiency disorders, respiratory problems, and birth defects have 
increased at alarming rates since the disaster. The region's soil and 
water supplies have remained contaminated. Ukraine's economy has been 
overwhelmed by the costs of rebuilding.
  Mr. President, the people of Chernobyl and Ukraine have not been 
alone in their efforts to overcome the tremendous loss. Numerous 
charitable and humanitarian organizations have assiduously worked to 
ameliorate the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. Americans for 
Human Rights in Ukraine and the Children of Chernobyl Relief Fund, from 
my State of New Jersey, have lent considerable support to that effort 
along with many others in the Ukrainian-American community. These and 
millions of other Americans in New Jersey and elsewhere continue to 
provide valuable assistance to the victims of the Chernobyl 
disaster. All private organizations who have been at the forefront to 
help Ukraine deserve commendation for their tireless efforts to assist 
Cherbobyl's victims.

  Unfortunately, more work needs to be done. Cherbobyl's two working 
reactors continue to churn out electricity. The protective concrete 
covering over the obliterated reactor No. 4, the sarcophagus, has 
developed cracks which dangerously weaken its structure. Corrosion of 
this structure threatens to release even more radioactivity into the 
region. Experts warn that another accident is imminent.
  Just yesterday, a fire started within 10 kilometers of Cherbobyl. 
While initial assessments by specialists conclude that the abundant 
smoke produced by the fire may not pose further contamination dangers, 
all bets are off in the future. The region's inhabitants cannot be 
assured that radioactive particles which settled in the areas 
surrounding Cherbobyl after the accident will not be carried into their 
villages or water supplies. They cannot be assured that future fires or 
even floods will not release dangerous levels of contamination.
  This event underscores the ongoing threat Cherbobyl poses to safety 
and the urgent need to close Cherbobyl forever.
  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 supporting Ukraine's decision to 
close Cherbobyl by the year 2000 and the international community has 
pledged financial support to facilitate the closure. Last week, 
President Clinton met in Moscow with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma 
and leaders of other G-7 nations, and Ukraine reaffirmed its commitment 
to close Cherbobyl.
  Support from the international community is vital to help Ukraine 
move forward and close Cherbobyl. Ukraine is working hard to implement 
open economic and social reforms, and its economy is strapped. At this 
very delicate time in Ukraine's history, the United States should 
support Ukraine's efforts to rebuild its infrastructure and to secure 
the alternative energy sources it needs to close Cherbobyl in a safe 
and expeditious manner.

[[Page S4075]]

   Mr. President, the devastating health effects, social distress, and 
economic hardship remains in the hearts and minds of the people of 
Ukraine who lived through the Cherbobyl explosion. They cannot forget 
the radioactive blanket of despair that covered their homes and forced 
them from their villages. They cannot forget that their livelihoods 
have been destroyed. For their sake and for the sake of future 
generations, we should commemorate this event on April 26, 1996, and 
redouble our efforts to ensure that the devastation of 10 years ago 
will not be repeated.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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