[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 54 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2001

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, fifteen years ago today, the 
small town of Chernobyl, Ukraine was the scene of the world's greatest 
nuclear accident in history. The aftermath of Chernobyl brought untold 
devastation to thousands of families in northern Ukraine. Radiation 
from blowing winds was spread as far away as the Scandinavian 
countries, even to coastal areas of southern Alaska and northern 
California. Even by most conservative experts, Chernobyl unleashed more 
radiation than 90 Hiroshima-sized bombs. Most of this fallout blanketed 
heavily populated areas of northern Ukraine and southern Belarus.
  Studies have shown thyroid cancer has skyrocketed among children 
exposed to the radiation. Stillbirths and birth defects in Ukraine have 
doubled, while the rate of infant mortality is twice the European 
average. Unfortunately, the effects of radiation exposure, including 
latent cancers, do not emerge in the body until ten to twenty years 
later. In effect, the next five to ten years will be crucial as 
humanitarian efforts mount to respond to the devastation inflicted over 
a decade ago.
  Although all Chernobyl nuclear reactors have been closed, the 
community is still suffering. Let us not forget the silent disease 
affecting the citizens of Ukraine.

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