[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 17, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              DEPLETED URANIUM MUNITIONS STUDY ACT OF 2005

  (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, today on behalf of 21 original 
Democratic co-sponsors, I am introducing the Depleted Uranium Munitions 
Study. The stakes could not be higher for U.S. soldiers and Iraqi 
civilians, and there is not a moment to lose, and I hope the Republican 
leadership will put it on the Suspension Calendar.
  DU, as it is called, is a byproduct of the uranium enrichment 
process. It is toxic and has low-level radioactivity, and it is widely 
used by the United States military in Iraq.
  There are countless stories of mysterious illnesses, higher rates of 
serious illnesses and even birth defects. We do not know what role, if 
any, DU plays in the medical tragedies in Iraq, but we must find out.
  The Pentagon says there is no evidence that DU is harmful; yet the 
Pentagon also says soldiers should wear protective gear, including 
special clothing and a respirator, using DU. An Iraqi child has no 
protective gear. The Iraqi people have no respirators. If DU is so 
safe, why do American soldiers need to wear protective clothing in the 
first place?
  We do not know if DU is safe or harmful; yet we have used 150 tons in 
the war so far.
  Let the Pentagon prove that it is safe.

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