[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 22, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PREVENTING A NUCLEAR CATASTROPHE

  (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, it is common knowledge that nuclear waste 
is one of the most dangerous and deadly substances known to man. Yet 
before us today is Senate bill 1287, a bill which calls for the 
transportation of this deadly material across 43 States, near your 
neighborhoods, past your homes and school yards.
  Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that transporting the 
unprecedented amount of nuclear waste as required in Senate bill 1287 
endangers our environment and the lives of millions of Americans living 
across those 43 States. The Department of Energy estimates that a rail 
accident involving a shipment of nuclear waste would result in the 
radioactive contamination of a 42-square mile area.
  Mr. Speaker, a cleanup of this environmental disaster would cost the 
taxpayers $620 million and require 460 days just to complete, millions 
of dollars, hundreds of days spent cleaning up a catastrophe that we 
can prevent today by voting no on Senate bill 1287.
  Protect the lives of your constituents and our precious environment. 
Vote no on Senate bill 1287.

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