[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H5323-H5326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHORNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 167) recognizing the 10th
anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, and supporting the
closing of the Chornobyl nuclear powerplant.
The clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 167
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
[[Page H5324]]
power plant and improving nuclear safety in Ukraine; and
Whereas representatives of Ukraine, the G-7 countries, and
international financial institutions will meet at lease
annually to monitor implementation of the program to close
Chornobyl: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York [Mr. Gilman] and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran] each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent
Resolution 167, a resolution noting the 10th anniversary of the
Chernobyl nuclear reactor explosion.
At 1:23 a.m. on April 26, 1986, a test conducted on reactor No. 4 at
the nuclear facility at Chernobyl, Ukraine, resulted kin catastrophe.
An explosion in the reactor core destroyed a large part of the reactor
building.
Since the entire facility had been built without any containment
dome, there was no way for the reactor personnel to prevent the release
into the atmosphere--and into the wind--of huge amounts of radioactive
materials. The total amount of radiation released in the course of this
terrible incident is estimated by many to exceed that released by the
atomic bomb blast at Hiroshima, Japan in 1945.
Mr. Speaker, as we note the passage of the 10th anniversary of this
catastrophe, I would like to provide my colleagues with some estimates
of the damage caused over the last 10 years in the countries of
Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia by the catastrophe of April 26, 1986:
Millions of residents of the countries of Ukraine, Belarus, and
Russia live on lands contaminated by radiation;
Thyroid cancers have risen dramatically among children of the
surrounding region; and
Radiation continues to work its way into the food chain, and the
danger of the further spread of radiation from the site of the
destroyed reactor is growing--even now, the concrete sarcophagus
surrounding the destroyed reactor is believed to be in danger of
collapse.
Meanwhile, energy-starved Ukraine continues to operate two remaining
reactors at the site, dependent on their electrical output to make it
through the difficult time of economic transformation through which
that country is now going.
The danger at Chernobyl continues, however. As recently as November
of last year, a serious radiation leak occurred when a nuclear fuel rod
split open during refueling of reactor No. 1.
Mr. Speaker, this is a grave situation, and one that requires the
world's attention and concern.
I am, therefore, pleased to support and cosponsor this resolution,
which not only notes the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl reactor
explosion, but reminds us that the problem of unsafe reactors remains
with us today at Chernobyl and at other sites across the former Soviet
Union.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
We rise in strong support of this resolution and commend the chairman
for bringing it before the House. We want to commend the humanitarian
relief organizations and the individuals who have cared for the victims
of the Chernobyl disaster. Their work has been supported by U.S.,
European and other international assistance.
Over the last 4 years, the United States has sent $100 million worth
of humanitarian and medical assistance to Ukraine. U.S. assistance has
also helped provide Ukraine with alternative energy sources that would
facilitate the closing of nuclear power stations.
On this anniversary, the United States also garnered private
donations for a combined government-private package of humanitarian and
medical assistance for the region's victims. The international
community, including G-7, obligated $3 billion in grants and loans for
power sector restructuring, least-cost energy investments, nuclear
safety and a plan addressing the social impact of Chernobyl's closure.
We are also pleased with the Government of Ukraine's commitment to
closing the Chernobyl power station in a safe manner by the year 2000.
Ukraine faces tremendous concerns with regard to finding energy
sources. Yet, achieving nuclear safety is key for Ukraine. It is also
one of the most important goals for its European neighbors and the
United States.
Mr. Speaker, the chairman mentioned that the destructive power of
Chernobyl was greater than Hiroshima. I understand it was 400 times as
large and that nuclear radiation has actually gone up into the
atmosphere and may very well be affecting all of us. So this is a very
important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey
[Mr. Pallone].
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution
commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl explosion. Although
one decade has passed since this deadly explosion, the aftermath and
the truth remain very clouded. The 7.6 tons of 200 different
radioactive substances released into the atmosphere over Ukraine and
neighboring nations continue to cause sickness and misery.
I am especially concerned about the state of the millions of children
who suffered and continue to suffer from the long-term effects of
radiation. The highly toxic heavy metals have caused an increase in
children's thyroid gland cancer, children's diabetes and anemia. The
medical effects still plague the affected regions which include parts
of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. Scientists discovered inherited
genetic damage in victims exposed to Chernobyl's radiation spillage. In
fact a study in the Nature journal states that children born in Belarus
in 1994 to parents who lived in the area during the meltdown suffered
from twice the normal rate of a specific type of mutation.
I should say, Mr. Speaker, particularly the point about Chernobyl
and, as the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran] mentioned the fact,
that there has been so much support and humanitarian relief provided to
the countries effected by private citizens, really mostly here in the
United States, was brought home to me very vividly a few years ago when
in my own district, that has a large Ukraine and Belarussian
population, there was a fund raiser, basically a relief fund raiser to
help the victims of Chernobyl.
I had been to some of those efforts that have been held in my
district, again by private citizens and organizations over the last 5
or 6 years. I was particularly impressed with the efforts on the part
of some of the Belarussian organizations in my district. My wife
happens to be of Belarussian descent. She also has been very concerned
to make sure that we continue to help those victims of Chernobyl.
In addition to the medical effects, the impact of the environmental
damage is still felt today. The 1986 meltdown contaminated 100,000
square miles of once arable lands in Belarus. That is about 20 percent
of the agricultural land; in Ukraine, 8 percent; and even within the
Russian Federation, 1 percent. This irradiated soil poses seemingly
endless problems for these countries' agrarian communities.
On April 26, 1991, the fifth anniversary of the meltdown, I
introduced a
[[Page H5325]]
resolution in the House urging the Soviet Government to take steps to
evacuate people still living in the affected areas to decontaminate the
Kiev reservoir, cease the planning, construction, and operation of
other nuclear facilities in the Ukraine and asked for international
supervision of existing facilities.
In an effort to build cooperation between the United States and
Ukraine, I believe our country should provide technical and medical
expertise to assist the people who continue to suffer while working
with all of the newly independent states of the former USSR to make
sure that a disaster on the order of Chernobyl never happens again.
As world leaders, we must continue to urge the United States to lead
international efforts to prevent future disasters. Last year our
Government joined with Ukraine and several other G-7 nations in a
memorandum of understanding to close the Chernobyl plant by the year
2000.
I just want to say that this action in the memorandum will not only
close the nuclear plant but it will assist Ukraine in developing a
safer, more vibrant self-sustaining energy sector. I think it is very
important to help Ukraine in trying to find alternatives to nuclear
power and to eventually close the Chernobyl plant.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith], the original sponsor of this
measure, who is also the distinguished chairman of our Subcommittee on
International Operations and Human Rights.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of our
full Committee on International Relations of yielding time to me and
for expeditiously moving this legislation through our full committee
and bringing it to the floor today.
House Concurrent Resolution 167 is an important and timely resolution
which recognizes the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear
disaster, the worst in recorded history, and supports the closing of
the remaining reactors in that plant.
Several weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, on April 23, I chaired a Helsinki
Commission hearing that examined the devastating consequences of the
Chernobyl disaster. Four experts on the subject of Chernobyl, including
the ambassadors of Ukraine and Belarus, the two countries most gravely
affected by the disaster, gave sobering accounts of the profound
medical, environmental, economic, and political consequences of the
disaster.
Mr. Speaker, as I think most Members know, in the early morning of
April 26, 1986 10 years ago, reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear
power plant exploded, releasing massive quantities of radioactive
substances into the atmosphere. As a matter of fact, some of the
experts who have looked at this carefully have suggested that as much
as 200 times the amount of radiation released at both Hiroshima and
Nagasaki combined was released as a result of that explosion.
{time} 1515
The highest level of radioactive fallout was registered in the
vicinity immediately surrounding Chernobyl, near the Ukrainian-
Belorussian border.
This expression of Congress draws attention to the ongoing tragedy.
Ten years ago, Mr. Speaker, millions of people, including about 1
million children, were exposed to dangerously high levels of radiation.
Since then children, in particular, have experienced alarming increases
in thyroid cancer and other conditions, including early childhood
diabetes, anemia, and illnesses associated with general fatigue. One
World Health Organization expert recently forecast that the total
number of thyroid cancers among children in the contaminated zones may
ultimately reach 10,000. These trends have accelerated since the
disaster and are expected to increase well into the future.
One of the witnesses at our hearing talked about the fact that many
of the people who moved out of the affected areas who used to have
farms there have grown impatient and have moved back to farm. Many are
not eating the produce and selling some of it in Kiev putting some at
risk of contamination. Indeed, stomach cancers are now beginning to
manifest themselves among the people in these affected areas.
Mr. Speaker, given these devastating consequences, House Concurrent
Resolution 167 calls upon the President to support continued and
enhanced United States assistance to provide medical relief,
humanitarian assistance, social impact planning and hospital
development for the Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia and encourages
national and international health organizations to expand the scope of
research into the public health consequences of Chernobyl.
Let me just remind Members as well that there are still scattered
throughout Russia some 15 different sites where Chernobyl-type reactors
are today in operation. So the prospects and the specter of this kind
of thing happening not just on the Chernobyl side itself, where the
reactors continued to be used, but also throughout Russia, leading to
what I would consider to be a unmitigated disaster should this happen
again.
So we need, I think, to be encouraging the closure of those as well
and upgrading if they need nuclear power, doing it in a way that is
environmentally sound and safe.
Mr. Speaker, one of the most important components of this resolution
is that it does indeed urge the 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, recognizing, of course, the
tremendous costs involved and its impact on the country that is
undergoing a transition from a Communist state to a market oriented
economy. They do have energy needs. We need to take that into
consideration and assist them in every way we can.
Among the most important components of the MOU is the G-7 financial
commitment, mostly in loans, as well as some grants, to help Ukrainians
impose market discipline on that country's very inefficient energy
sector and make it more rational and self-sustaining.
Finally, the resolution supports the broadening of Ukraine's regional
energy resources, which will reduce its dependence on an individual
country.
Mr. Speaker, the international community, including the U.S.
Government and many nongovernmental organizations, are indeed
responding to the consequences of Chernobyl, but more needs to be done,
especially as Ukraine and the Belarus, the countries again that bore
the brunt of Chernobyl, are undergoing this transitional period.
Mr. Speaker, I ask Members to support this measure and then, when we
get down to appropriate humanitarian aid later on in the year, to
support the kind of resources that will help make the mitigation of
this crisis a reality.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New
Jersey [Mr. Smith] for his sponsorship of this measure and his eloquent
remarks in support of the resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished chief
Democratic whip of the House, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Bonior],
who is also a very strong supporter of the resolution commemorating the
205th anniversary of the adoption of Poland's first constitution.
Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Virginia, Mr. Moran,
for yielding me the time and for his concern of the peoples of Eastern
Europe.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and commend
my colleague from New Jersey, Mr. Smith, for bringing it to the floor
of the House of Representatives.
Many of us joined in commemorations of this anniversary over the past
month in churches and town halls in our communities and at a very
special event at the White House.
Mr. Speaker, the Chornobyl nuclear disaster was a silent killer, and
people will continue to feel its direct effects well into the next
millennium.
Millions of lives have been unalterably changed by it.
Sickness, death and dispossession arrived, stayed, and have yet to
leave.
[[Page H5326]]
On April 26, 1986, reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl atomic energy
station ignited, causing an explosion, fire, and partial meltdown of
the reactor core.
Ten years have now passed since that terrible day.
Today, the ghosts of history's worst nuclear disaster cannot be
avoided in the pines and the farmland, now overgrown, that surround
Chernobyl.
The city of Pripyat, once home to 40,000, sits empty.
Dozens of villages have been abandoned.
The 134,000 people who were evacuated from the area won't be
returning to their homes.
An area the size of Rhode Island is now a dead zone.
The health effects are equally astonishing.
Sadly, cancer among children has tripled.
Ukraine now has the highest rate of infertility in the world.
Birth defects have nearly doubled.
Mr. Speaker, our government, many charitable organizations and
individuals have contributed to efforts to recover from the disaster.
We must continue those efforts, and we must enhance them for the
people of Ukraine.
Ukraine faces many challenges, not the least of which are the human
and economic costs of coping with the effects of Chernobyl.
Today we must pause to remember those who lost their lives and those
whose lives were changed forever.
We learned many lessons from that tragedy ten years ago, and now we
must move forward and help our friends in Ukraine prepare for the
future.
That is why supporting this resolution is so important.
We remember the past and learn from the past.
But we also look forward to a future in which Ukraine and the United
States will enjoy even closer ties, and the people of Ukraine will be
able to build a new future.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join us in passing this
resolution today.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to take a moment to recognize the
outstanding humanitarian work that has been done over the last few
years by a group of high school students in my district in New York.
The Ramapo High School Children of Chernobyl fund has provided $12
million in medicines and other contributions to children in Belarus who
were affected by exposure to the Chornobyl radiation.
I am so pleased to note for my colleagues such thoughtful, charitable
young people.
I am certain those children in Belarus who have benefitted from these
students' humanitarian efforts would want this Congress to know of
their helping hand and hearts.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Wicker). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House
Concurrent Resolution 167.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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