[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 44 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E561-E562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 4, 2006

  Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I would like to commend 
my colleagues on the Committee on International Relations for their 
work on House Resolution 703, which recognizes the 20th anniversary of 
the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. I strongly support this resolution, 
which serves as an important reminder of the work yet to be done to 
ensure a better future for people living in parts of Ukraine, Belarus, 
and Russia, and other areas, who have been affected by the disaster.
  As the resolution makes clear, the United States must continue its 
work with other countries and international organizations to provide 
assistance to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear 
disaster. At the same time, as the resolution points out, it is also 
imperative that we support research into the public health consequences 
of the disaster so that the international community might benefit from 
the findings of such research.
  It is in this spirit that I would like to recognize the Chernobyl 
Research and Service

[[Page E562]]

Project, an initiative underway by a coalition including the U.S. 
Department of Energy, the Ukrainian government, Duke University, the 
University of North Carolina at Asheville, and RTI International. By 
studying the effects of human exposure to radiation, this project has a 
number of critical objectives. In addition to protecting the health and 
welfare of workers involved in the Chernobyl clean-up effort, the 
Chernobyl Research and Service Project aims to provide information that 
will lead to the development of more sensitive tests to detect and 
measure radiation exposure and its effects in the human population, as 
well as the development of more powerful treatment for victims of 
radiation exposure, among other things.
  Today, as we remember the Chernobyl disaster, it is my sincere hope 
that programs such as the Chernobyl Research and Service Project 
continue in an effort not only to improve the lives of those affected 
by the catastrophic event that took place 20 years ago this month, but 
also to ensure that we are better prepared in the future.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this significant 
resolution.

                          ____________________