[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 112 (Tuesday, August 3, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H6848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 WE MUST TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL AMERICANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, 3 weeks ago I first learned 
the story of a lieutenant colonel working for the Department of Energy 
whose job had been threatened. Colonel Ed McCallum was the director of 
the Office of Safeguards and Security for the Department of Energy. He 
and his staff were responsible for the policy that governs the 
protection of the Energy Department's national security assets. This 
includes nuclear weapons, nuclear materials, highly classified 
information, and personnel clearances.
  In his position within the Department, Colonel McCallum was 
responsible for evaluating and working to prevent security challenges 
with regard to our Nation's most sensitive technology. In his 9 years 
as director, Colonel McCallum worked under Clinton appointee Secretary 
Hazel O'Leary and then under current Energy Secretary Bill Richardson. 
Under both, he worked to highlight security lapses within the 
Department. Unfortunately, he faced a steep uphill battle getting 
anyone in the department to listen to his concerns.
  Instead, his reports and memos were ultimately carelessly set aside. 
Even after gaining the attention of the Secretary, little or no action 
was taken. Time after time, his efforts were stonewalled.
  Now Colonel McCallum is speaking out about the Department's efforts 
to ignore the great breaches of national security at our weapons 
laboratories. Since coming forward with the truth, Colonel McCallum was 
placed on administrative leave and his career was threatened. Now with 
the help of Bill O'Reilly and Fox News, I have been working to draw 
attention to the subject of China and other nations' efforts to steal 
American military secrets, as well as the administration's treatment of 
the men and women who are coming forward with the truth.
  Colonel McCallum and members of his staff are working to protect the 
security of each and every American citizen. Rather than being rewarded 
for their patriotism, they are being punished by this administration.
  After appearing on the O'Reilly Factor last month, my office has 
received numerous calls and letters from concerned citizens asking that 
we continue working to address this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people care that our national security has 
been compromised. The American people care about what other sensitive 
U.S. information China and rogue nations have been able to access. Our 
potential adversaries may have been able to steal information on our 
most advanced stealth technology. Our military space research or 
information on our most advanced communications equipment.
  Each of these technologies by themselves pose real risks to the 
security of the American people. For that reason, I am concerned not 
only for the safety of our generation but also that of the future 
generations. My friend and colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Weldon), and I have asked the Committee on Armed Services 
chairman, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spence), to hold a 
hearing allowing members of Colonel McCallum's staff to testify. The 
information they can provide will be critical in assessing Congress' 
effort to halt the leakage of sensitive military secrets.
  Mr. Speaker, we must take action to protect those individuals who are 
willing to come forward with the information that will keep our 
sensitive national security information protected and secret. We must 
take actions to ensure the safety and security of all Americans.

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