[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP DECISIONS SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON CAMPAIGN 
                             CONTRIBUTIONS

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Madam Speaker, a recent editorial in the Las Vegas Sun stated: 
``Nuclear industry stacks the deck.'' The article further states, 
``Dollars here. Get your campaign money here.''
  How true. Like hucksters at a carnival, the nuclear industry is 
dangling dollars in front of Senators and Congressmen, then stuffing 
their campaign coffers with nearly $13 million. The prize, of course, 
is a nuclear waste dump in Nevada.
  According to the study aptly titled, ``The Nuclear Industry: A Cash 
Cow for Congress,'' pointed out that nearly $10 million was given to 
House Members and $3 million to Senators. Nevadans wonder what effect 
this money has had on the scientific study of Yucca Mountain's 
suitability as a nuclear waste repository. Does this money amount to 
hush money or is it just political contributions to pay off opposition? 
Should the industry's $13 million not be better spent recycling this 
waste?
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 1270. 
Government should make its decisions on sound science; not bank 
accounts.

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