[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 156 (Tuesday, November 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2069]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF SENSE OF THE CONGRESS CONCERNING THE SECURITY OF 
                NUCLEAR FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2001

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce a sense of the Congress 
measure related to the very real and present concern for the security 
of our nuclear facilities in the new post September 11 era.
  Throughout my public life I have represented in the Pennsylvania 
legislature and here in Congress the many neighborhoods and communities 
surrounding the Three Mile Island nuclear facility. I remember well the 
infamous incident at TMI in 1979. I served as a state senator at the 
time and, minutes after the warning came that an incident had occurred, 
I was at the site trying to gather information and allay public 
concerns. In the many years that have followed, I have worked 
consistently to ensure that security at TMI was beyond reproach, and I 
think with great effect. Nuclear power plant security has and will 
always be of paramount importance to me.
  It has been twenty-two years since the TMI incident. I believe the 
security of TMI today remains as tight as ever. However, in light of 
the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center, damaged 
the Pentagon, and murdered over 5,000 innocent civilians, we must be 
even more vigilant. A recent credible threat to TMI provoked concerns 
on the part of many in my District about the ability of TMI and other 
nuclear facilities to repulse a possible terrorist attack. Happily, the 
threat to TMI turned out to be noncredible. But the concerns exist. I 
believe the Nuclear Regulatory Commission handled the incident 
appropriately. They assure me that future terrorist threats can be 
dealt with to ensure that a nuclear incident does not occur as a 
result. Yet, we cannot know with absolute certainty that we are forever 
safe from such a threat. I firmly believe that a thorough, federal 
study of the security measures in place now and, those needed in the 
future, at all of nation's nuclear facilities should be conducted 
immediately.
  There are over 103 nuclear facilities located at 64 sites in 31 
different States. Each has a different security plan registered with 
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, yet the overall responsibility for 
the security of all such facilities remains a federal issue. My 
legislation would reconfirm the national responsibility for nuclear 
plant security, and calls upon the President to order an interagency 
study of security at nuclear facilities be conducted immediately by the 
NRC, the Defense Department, the Department of Transportation, Federal 
Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency.
  I am pleased with the steps Governor Ridge of the Office of Homeland 
Defense continues to take to prepare the country for future acts of 
terrorism. One of those steps was to recently issue, in conjunction 
with the NRC, an alert to Governors to take necessary steps to bolster 
security at our Nation's nuclear power plants. Thirty-one States are 
home to over a hundred nuclear facilities. Twenty-two Governors, after 
receiving the Homeland Defense security alert, ordered State troopers 
and local officers to temporarily augment the private security at the 
facilities in their States. Nine Governors, including Governor 
Schweiker of Pennsylvania, decided to call up National Guard units to 
bolster security at their nuclear facilities. However, the use of 
National Guard forces has raised many questions. Why some States and 
not others? How large a force will be necessary? How long will they be 
there? Are they properly trained for such a mission? Are their efforts 
coordinated with law enforcement and private security? And, who will 
fund these units?
  My legislation calls upon President Bush to make the use of military 
forces at nuclear plants a primary focus of the federal interagency 
study to be commissioned. The Department of Defense and Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission must move forward with other relevant agencies 
towards developing standards to ensure that units of the National 
Guard, Coast Guard, Army and Air Force are used appropriately, are 
adequately trained, and highly coordinated with law enforcement and 
private security forces. Moreover, my resolution calls upon the 
President to recognize the need for federal funding for National Guard 
units called upon to perform security duties at nuclear power plants 
nationally. The National Guard has a unique dual role. They serve under 
State authority or federal authority, depending on their mission. 
President Bush has recognizing the national importance of protecting 
our national transportation system by funding National Guard units 
stationed at airports and train stations across the country. This 
resolution calls upon the President to similarly recognize the national 
importance of nuclear plant security by funding those units sent to 
nuclear power plants.
  Additionally, my resolution calls upon the President to direct the 
FDA, NRC and FEMA to take all necessary steps to begin stockpiling 
supplies of potassium iodide in communities within the Emergency 
Planning Zones of each of the 64 nuclear power sites across the 
country. Potassium iodine can effectively counteract some of the more 
serious debilitating effects of radiation poisoning. A potential 
accident at a nuclear facility can result in leakage of radioactive 
iodine. Studies show that use of potassium iodide tablets can prevent 
the onset of thyroid cancer, a by-product of radioactive iodine 
exposure. Stockpiling of potassium iodide tablets simply makes sense. 
It is another important way we can do everything within reason to make 
sure our communities are free from the fear of insecurity.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the Bush Administration for the actions taken 
to make America more secure. More will be done. My sense of the 
Congress resolution helps point the Government in the direction it must 
move over the next months. I thank Mr. Kanjorski, Mr. Pitts and Mr. 
Platts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for their active support in 
joining me in this measure. And, I ask that all Members of Congress and 
the Senate support our measure.