[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 23, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        VOTE ``NO'' ON H.R. 1270

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address this Chamber as 
well as all America on an issue that is extremely important to all of 
us, and that is the issue of nuclear waste.
  In a recent advertisement, in fact, an advertisement paid for by the 
nuclear energy lobbyists, it appeared in the Congressional Daily, dated 
September 22, 1997, and I quote, ``Thanks to nuclear energy, the air in 
Maine and New Hampshire is cleaner.'' The ad goes on to say, ``Since 
nuclear powerplants don't burn anything to generate electricity, they 
do not pollute the air.''
  Well, Mr. Speaker, if nuclear energy is as environmentally safe an 
energy source as they claim it to be, then why do they not store the 
wastes associated with those nuclear energy plants in their own States?
  Why not keep that nuclear waste safely stored at nuclear powerplants 
throughout the country, as this claim advertises, and let me say, 
generating electricity with nuclear energy produces a small amount of 
used nuclear fuel. Today this used fuel is safely stored at 109 nuclear 
powerplants throughout the country.
  The headline, Mr. Speaker, should read, ``Thanks to nuclear energy, 
innocent people all across this country will be put at risk as 80,000 
tons or more of nuclear waste is transported through their 
communities.''
  Mr. Speaker, the American people should say thanks, but no thanks. I 
urge my colleagues to understand the facts, that as nuclear waste is 
transported through their communities, Americans are put at risk, and I 
urge them to get the facts on nuclear waste. I urge them to vote ``no'' 
on H.R. 1270.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the ad from National Journal's 
CongressDaily.

Thanks to Nuclear Energy, the Air in Maine and New Hampshire Is Cleaner

       Nuclear energy provides electricity to millions of people 
     in Maine, New Hampshire and throughout America, and because 
     nuclear plants don't burn anything to generate electricity, 
     they don't pollute the air.


                       but what about the waste?

       Generating electricity with nuclear energy produces a small 
     amount of used nuclear fuel. Today, this used fuel is safely 
     stored at 109 nuclear power plants throughout the country. 
     However, the government has the legal responsibility to 
     dispose of this waste beginning January 31, 1998.
       H.R. 1270 would move used nuclear fuel to a single, 
     engineered storage facility at a remote desert location. It's 
     a common-sense strategy that will ensure nuclear energy 
     continues to provide electricity to Maine and New Hampshire 
     and nationwide for years to come.
       H.R. 1270: Act Now On Nuclear Waste Disposal.

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