[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 28, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H8876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     PRESIDENT SHOULD VETO NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY AMENDMENTS OF 1999

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, Senate bill 1287, the Nuclear Waste Policy 
Amendments of 1999, has been introduced in the United States Senate. 
Although this bill would not establish a temporary nuclear storage 
facility in Nevada, you should be aware of its misguided attempts to 
deal with the permanent disposal of nuclear waste.
  The passage of this legislation would place unneeded and dangerous 
environmental, safety, and health risks upon millions of Americans. 
Therefore, I would urge the President to uphold his commitment to 
Nevada and the American people by reaffirming his veto promise.
  Senate bill 187 would accelerate the time line for permanent disposal 
at Yucca Mountain, ignoring the ongoing scientific studies and our 
Nation's environmental laws that were designed to protect its citizens. 
It would also allow the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, not the EPA, to 
establish dangerous radiation standards. Such a change in law would 
facilitate contamination of groundwater supplies and endanger all 
Americans along the transportation routes with higher dosage of deadly 
radiation, ultimately destroying the lives of American families.
  Mr. President, where is your promise? The American people deserve to 
hear your voice on this critically important issue.

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