[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 59 (Monday, May 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2983-H2986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY IN NORTHERN EUROPE
ACT OF 2000
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4249) to foster cross-border cooperation and environmental
cleanup in Northern Europe, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4249
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cross-Border Cooperation and
Environmental Safety in Northern Europe Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Northern Europe is an increasingly vital part of Europe
and one that offers great opportunities for United States
investment.
(2) Northern Europe offers an excellent opportunity to make
progress toward the United States vision of a secure,
prosperous, and stable Europe, in part because of--
(A) historical tradition of regional cooperation;
(B) the opportunity to engage Russia in positive,
cooperative activities with its neighbors to the west;
(C) commitment by the Baltic states to regional cooperation
and integration into western institutions; and
(D) longstanding, strong ties with the United States.
(3) The United States Northern Europe Initiative (NEI)
provides the conceptual and operational framework for United
States policy in the region, focused on developing a regional
network of cooperation in the important areas of business and
trade promotion, law enforcement, the environment, energy,
civil society, and public health.
(4) A central objective of the United States Northern
Europe Initiative is to promote cross-border cooperation
among the countries in the region.
(5) A wide variety of regional and cross-border projects
have been initiated under the United States Northern Europe
Initiative since the Initiative was established in 1997,
including the following:
(A) A United States-Lithuanian training program for
entrepreneurs from Belarus and Kaliningrad.
(B) The Great Lakes-Baltic Sea Partnership program that is
being implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency.
(C) A Center of Excellence for Treatment of Multidrug-
Resistant Tuberculosis in Riga, Latvia.
(D) A regional HIV/AIDS strategy being developed under
United States and Finnish leadership.
(E) Multiple efforts to combat organized crime, including
regional seminars for police officers and prosecutors.
(F) Programs to encourage reform of the Baltic electricity
market and encourage United States investment in such market.
(G) Language and job training programs for Russian-speaking
minorities in Latvia and Estonia to promote social
integration in those countries.
(H) A mentoring partnership program for woman entrepreneurs
in the northwest region of Russia and the Baltic states, as
part of broader efforts to promote women's participation in
political and economic life.
(6) Norway, Sweden, and Finland have made considerable
efforts to provide assistance to the newly independent Baltic
states and to the Northwest region of Russia. In particular,
the United States notes the request placed before the
European Union by Finland in 1999 for the creation and
extensive funding by the European Union of a ``Northern
Dimension'' Initiative to substantially address the problems
that now exist in Northern Europe with regard to economic
development, protection of the environment, the safety and
containment of nuclear materials, and other issues.
(7) The United States commends the endorsement of the
``Northern Dimension'' Initiative by the European Council at
its meeting in Helsinki, Finland in December 1999 and calls
on the European Union to act on that endorsement through the
provision of substantial funding for the Initiative.
(8) While the European Union, its member states, and other
European countries should clearly take the lead in addressing
the challenges posed in Northern Europe, in particular
through appropriate yet substantial assistance provided by
the European Union, the United States-Northern Europe
Initiative, and this Act are intended to supplement such
efforts and build on the considerable assistance that the
United States has already provided to the Baltic states and
the Russian Federation. Partnership with other countries in
the region means modest United States investment can have
significant impact.
(9) The United States Northern Europe Initiative's focus on
regional environmental challenges is particularly important.
Northern Europe is home to significant environmental
problems, particularly the threat posed by nuclear waste from
Russian submarines, icebreakers, and nuclear reactors.
(10) In particular, 21,000 spent fuel assemblies from
Russian submarines are lying exposed near Andreeyeva Bay,
nearly 60 dangerously decrepit nuclear submarines, many in
danger of sinking, are languishing in the Murmansk area of
Northwest Russia, whole reactors and radioactive liquid waste
are stored on unsafe floating barges, and there are
significant risks of marine and atmospheric contamination
from accidents arising from loss of electricity or fire on
deteriorating, poorly monitored nuclear submarines.
(11) This waste poses a threat to the safety and stability
of Northern Europe and to countries of the Eurasian
continent.
(12)(A) In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency
has facilitated the expansion and upgrading of a facility for
the treatment of low-level liquid radioactive waste from the
decommissioning of nuclear submarines docked at naval
facilities in the Arctic region of Russia.
(B) The Environmental Protection Agency has also initiated
a project to construct an 80-ton prototype cask for the
storage and transport of civilian-controlled spent nuclear
fuel, much of it damaged and currently stored onboard an
aging vessel anchored in Murmansk Harbor. Currently in the
design phase, this project is scheduled for completion in
2000.
(13) Working with the countries in the region to address
these environmental problems remains vital to the long-term
national interest of the United States.
[[Page H2984]]
(14) The United States and other countries are currently
negotiating a number of agreements with Russia which will
provide internationally accepted legal protections for the
United States and other countries that provide nuclear waste
management assistance to Russia. Regrettably, it has not yet
been possible to resolve remaining differences over
liability, taxation of assistance, privileges and immunities
for foreign contractors, and audit rights.
(15) Concluding these agreements is vital to the continued
provision of such assistance and to the possible development
of new programs.
(16) With the election of Russian President Vladamir Putin,
the opportunity presents itself to surmount these problems,
to conclude these outstanding agreements, and to allow
assistance programs to move forward to alleviate this
problem.
(17) The United States Government is currently studying
whether dismantlement of multi-purpose submarines is in the
national interest.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to demonstrate
concrete support for continued cross-border cooperation in
Northern Europe and immediate efforts to assist in the clean
up of nuclear waste in that region.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States-Northern Europe Initiative is a sound
framework for future United States involvement in Northern
Europe;
(2) the European Union should move expeditiously to
authorize and fund the proposed ``Northern Dimension''
Initiative at appropriate yet substantial levels of
assistance;
(3) the United States should continue to support a wide-
ranging strengthening of democratic and civic institutions on
a regional basis to provide a foundation for political
stability and investment opportunities, including cross-
border exchanges, in Northern Europe;
(4) the United States should demonstrate continued
commitment to address environmental security challenges in
Northwest Russia, in cooperation with partners in the region;
(5) recently-elected Russian President Vladamir Putin
should rapidly conclude pending nuclear waste management
agreements to enable assistance programs to go forward; and
(6) assistance to Russia on nuclear waste management should
only be provided after issues related to liability, taxation
of assistance, privileges and immunities for foreign
contractors, and audit rights have been resolved.
SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES NORTHERN EUROPE INITIATIVE
PROJECTS.
(a) Availability of Amounts From East European and the
Baltic States Assistance.--Of the amounts available for
fiscal year 2001 to carry out the provisions of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 and the Support for Eastern European
Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 for assistance and for related
programs for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, not less
than $2,000,000 shall be used for projects described in
subsection (c).
(b) Availability of Amounts From Independent States of the
Former Soviet Union Assistance.--Of the amounts available for
fiscal year 2001 to carry out the provisions of chapter 11 of
part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Freedom
for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets
Support Act of 1992 for assistance for the independent states
of the former Soviet Union and related programs, not less
than $2,000,000 shall be used for the projects described in
subsection (c).
(c) Projects Described.--The projects described in this
subsection are United States Northern Europe Initiative
projects relating to environmental cleanup, law enforcement,
public health, energy, business and trade promotion, and
civil society.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY.
Not later that 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the
heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies,
shall prepare and submit to the Congress a report on--
(1) the threat to the environmental security of the
countries of Northern Europe and other countries of Europe
and Asia presented by Russian marine nuclear reactors, waste,
and contamination; and
(2) identifying the possibilities for new and expanded
United States and multilateral assistance programs for
environmental clean-up in Northwest Russia, including
technical exchanges and private-public partnerships.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Northern europe.--The term ``Northern Europe'' means
the northwest region of the Russian Federation (including
Kaliningrad), the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of
Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania,
the Kingdom of Denmark, the Republic of Finland, the Republic
of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Poland,
and the Kingdom of Sweden.
(2) United states northern europe initiative.--The term
``United States Northern Europe Initiative'' means the
framework agreement established in 1997 between the United
States and the countries of Northern Europe to promote
stability in the Baltic Sea region and to strengthen key
institutions and security structures of the United States and
the countries of Northern Europe.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
General Leave
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on H.R. 4249, the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4249, introduced by the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), seeks to focus on the policies of our
Nation and the European Union with regard to Northern Europe, an area
that includes the Baltic region and the northwestern region of Russia.
I have been concerned that the European Union, while acknowledging the
extensive problems that exist today in its own backyard in Northern
Europe, has yet to take action to provide the kind of substantial aid
that will be needed if those problems are going to be properly
addressed.
My distinguished colleague from Connecticut has graciously
incorporated into his bill provisions I suggested that make it clear
that the European Union must take the lead in addressing those problems
and must, in particular, provide the substantial aid that is going to
be needed to deal with that.
In my view, any assistance provided at this point by our Nation
should be clearly understood by the European Union to be a supplement
to its aid, not a substitute for the substantial EU assistance that is
going to be required.
I have no objection to our Nation lending a hand on those problems.
In fact, the gentleman's bill points out the U.S.-Northern Europe
Initiative already exists and has already been funded under our foreign
aid program for 3 years at the present time, since the President
already has the authority to conduct the activities envisioned in this
bill under the SEED Act of 1989 and the Freedom Support Act of 1992,
and the authority to provide funding for those activities, and the
President has used that authority.
I believe, Mr. Speaker, that the gentleman's intent with the
introduction of this bill is, however, to highlight his concern about
the problems faced by the countries of Northern Europe, and I share his
concern. I hasten to take this opportunity to point out that the United
States has provided considerable aid to support reforms and to address
problems in the region, and that the United States has also endowed
several foundations in those countries of the region where its aid
program has been phased out.
Mr. Speaker, such U.S.-endowed foundations include the Baltic
American Enterprise Fund, the Baltic American Partnership Fund and the
Polish American Freedom Foundation. In addition, while our Freedom
Support Act aid program, our Nunn-Lugar demilitarization program, our
large food aid program, our enriched uranium purchase program and other
forms of aid all continue today in Russia, we have also set up an
enterprise fund in that nation that I am certain will last for years to
come.
Mr. Speaker, we should not overlook all that the United States has
done in Eastern Europe since 1989 and all that the United States is
still doing in that region today. It is, therefore, my hope that this
bill, if adopted by this Congress, will serve to signal our concern
over remaining problems in the region of Northern Europe but will also
serve as a clear call on the European Union to take the lead in
addressing those problems.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill. First, let me
just thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) for all of his work
and his bipartisan efforts in allowing this bill to come to the floor.
[[Page H2985]]
An environmental threat looms over our allies in Europe and the
emerging democracies in the Baltic region. Twenty-one thousand spent
fuel assemblies from Russian submarines are lying exposed. Nearly 60
dangerously decrepit nuclear submarines, many in danger of sinking, are
languishing in northwest Russia. Whole reactors and radioactive liquid
waste are stored on unsafe floating barges and there are significant
risks of marine and atmospheric contamination from accidents arising
from loss of electricity or fire on deteriorating, poorly monitored
nuclear submarines.
This waste poses a threat to the safety and the stability of Northern
Europe and to countries of the Eurasian continent. A fire or explosion
on one of these subs could spread contamination over a wide area. Theft
of plutonium from a submarine could become a proliferation issue.
This important bill, introduced by our foresighted ranking member of
the Committee on International Relations, ensures that at least $4
million will be spent on environmental cleanup and cross-border
cooperation in this region.
{time} 1530
It also mandates a study on this potential environmental crisis that
threatens regional environmental stability and therefore the United
States' national interests in the region.
By mandating a report to address the severity of this situation and
by urging President Putin to make progress on concluding liability
issues to move forward on nuclear waste management issues, this bill
makes a very important contribution to proactively preventing a
security crisis in Northern Europe before it erupts.
Just as our foreign policy must address regions in crisis in Europe
and around the world, likewise, we cannot afford to neglect areas that
appear to be stable but may have problems that lie beneath the surface.
Northern Europe has made progress over the last few years,
particularly among the Balkan states, but the division itselves of the
Cold War and the legacy of the Soviet Union damaged trust and a sense
of community which flourished in this region in the past.
This bill reaffirms support for Northern Europe's initiative, and it
also seeks to continue the progress towards rebuilding confidence and
security in the region. So for those of us who are very much opposed to
nuclear proliferation and who support the environment, we urge our
colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the distinguished chairman of
our Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
(Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the committee for
yielding time to me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. H.R. 4249
authorizes $4 million from a variety of sources: The Eastern European
Democracy Act, or SEED, of 1989; the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961;
and the Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open
Markets Support Act of 1992.
It does this to support worthwhile projects under the U.S.-Northern
European initiative in the areas of environmental clean-up, law
enforcement, public health, energy, business and trade promotion, and
civil society.
Most significantly, I think, H.R. 4249 highlights the enormously
dangerous problem of Russian nuclear waste in the area of Murmansk and
northwest Russia. In particular, hundreds of rusting and rotting
decommissioned nuclear submarines and ships pose a threat, not just to
Northern Europe, but to the entire world. Indeed, this waste may pose
the most imminent environmental danger in the world today. There is an
urgent need to address this critical problem because it literally could
explode in our face.
Unfortunately, the bill also points out that it has not yet been
possible to resolve remaining differences with Russia over liability,
taxation of assistance, privileges and immunities for foreign
contractors, and audit rights in regard to this waste, and concludes
that these agreements are vital to continue provision of assistance.
The gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), distinguished ranking
member of the Committee on International Relations, amended this bill
in committee to make it clear that no assistance should be provided
until these problems are adequately resolved.
In addition to the environmental problems, this bill will also
provide funds to support the United States' Northern European
initiative and projects under that initiative in areas such as civil
society, law enforcement, business, energy, and public health.
While the bill remains very limited in providing seed funds, it will
serve as an important indicator to the European Union of our interest
and support for this initiative.
I would close by commending the gentleman from Connecticut for
offering this important legislation, and urge our colleagues to support
H.R. 4249.
Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4249, a bill I
introduced to foster cooperation and environmental cleanup in Northern
Europe. I thank Chairman Gilman for his assistance with this
legislation. I also thank all of the bipartisan co-sponsors of this
bill, particularly my friend from Nebraska, Mr. Bereuter, who spoke
eloquently and forcefully in Committee on the threats that this bill
addresses.
Many people thought that the problem of decaying Soviet-era nuclear
submarines would just disappear with the end of the Cold War, but the
threat is real and it persists. My legislation seeks to address this
problem and other regional challenges through the important framework
of the Northern Europe Initiative (NEI). The NEI is a U.S. launched
initiative to promote stability in the Baltic Sea region and to
strengthen key institutions and security structures of the United
States and the countries of Northern Europe.
The remarkable work of the Combined Threat Reduction Program, better
known as Nunn-Lugar, has facilitated the dismantlement of 12 strategic
missile submarines and 46 submarine launched ballistic missiles--those
parts of the old Soviet fleet deemed most of a threat to U.S. National
Security. But over 150 decaying nuclear submarines remain floating in
Russian ports, vulnerable to theft and tampering.
Recent events show how dangerous this situation is for the region and
therefore for U.S. National Security. Less than five months ago in
January at a base near Vilyuchinsk, Russia, two sailors bribed a guard
and boarded a decommissioned attack submarine, then broke into the
reactor compartment and began removing cables and metal. According to
press reports, while stealing these parts, the sailors could easily
have caused a meltdown in the still-operating reactor of the submarine,
if its control rods had not been bolted down by an engineer two days
earlier so the thieves were unable to raise them.
Equally frightening was an event from September 1998 when a young
Russian sailor commandeered an active duty Akula-class SSN that was
docked at the Northern Fleet's Gadzhiyevo Naval Base, killing eight of
his colleagues in the process. He barricaded himself in the boat's
torpedo room, where he was preparing to set fire to the vessel and
detonate its torpedoes. When Murmansk Security troops stormed the
torpedo compartment, they found the assailant dead, apparently killed
by an explosion triggered by his attempt to set fire to the torpedoes.
Needless to say, had the torpedoes all detonated, a serious nuclear
accident could have occurred.
My legislation calls on Russian President Putin to rapidly conclude
pending nuclear waste management agreements to enable assistance
programs from European sources to go forward. The bill also mandates a
study from the Secretary of State to assess the environmental threat of
decaying submarines to American allies in Europe and proliferation
threats to the national security of the United States.
The bill also directs the U.S. Government to spend $4 million of
already budgeted money in Northern Europe on environmental cleanup and
civil society projects under the framework of the Northern European
Initiative. Included in this initiative are targeted but valuable
programs such as:
A United States-Lithuanian training program for entrepreneurs from
Belarus and Kaliningrad.
The Great Lakes-Baltic Sea partnership program that is being
implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency.
A Center of Excellence for Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant
Tuberculosis in Riga, Latvia.
A regional HIV/AIDS strategy being developed under United States and
Finnish leadership.
[[Page H2986]]
Northern Europe is an area that once pulsed with activity, long
before the Cold War divided this region. It is a place where my parents
came from--from modern day Lithuania and Belarus. These cross-border
projects can take a small step to build back the trust and cooperation
that flourished before dictators and armies split people apart.
This legislation has been endorsed by proliferation and environmental
watchdog groups with expertise in this area including Monterey
Institute of International Studies, the Bellona Institute, the Sierra
Club and the Union of Concerned Scientists.
One of the leading U.S. experts on the Russian Submarine issue, Dr.
James Clay Moltz, Director of the NIS Nonproliferation Project at the
Monterey Institute, said in support of this legislation:
The presence of large numbers of decommissioned but not
defueled attack submarines in the Russian Northern Fleet
poses serious environmental, proliferation-related, and
security threats. These vessels are vulnerable to nuclear
accidents from the on-going theft of materials and control
systems by impoverished sailors, the sinking of corroded
vessels, and periodic electrical outages at Russian naval
facilities. Given that many of these submarines were designed
to carry nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and torpedoes, it is
in U.S. interests to dismantle them as soon as possible.
My legislation states clearly that it is Europeans who must continue
to take the lead. It is not necessary for the United States to spend
large sums of money on these projects, but it is in our national
interest to provide leadership and expertise on submarine dismantlement
efforts. This is a case where our unparalleled experience in this field
makes us the indispensable nation.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4249, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________