[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 98 (Friday, June 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. J. GRESHAM BARRETT

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration of the bill (H.R. 2647) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense; to prescribe 
     military personnel strengths for fiscal-year 2010, and for 
     other purposes.

  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Chair, ensuring that our nation 
remains safe and strong is the top priority for this House. Because of 
the real and increasing nuclear threat from countries like North Korea 
and Iran, I agree with my colleagues who are offering this amendment 
that cutting funding for missile defense is the wrong choice for our 
country right now.
  While I certainly support efforts to increase funding for missile 
defense, I am unable to support the amendment offered by my colleagues. 
The significant decrease in funding for the Environmental Management 
included as an offset in the amendment will have a serious impact on 
the ability of our nation to fulfill its obligation to clean up our 
defense nuclear waste at several sites across the country, including 
one in my district, the Savannah River Site (SRS).
  For over fifty years, sites like SRS have played an indispensible 
role in keeping our nation secure. Now, the federal government has the 
responsibility to fulfill the commitment it made to the communities and 
the states that have hosted these sites by cleaning up the legacy 
nuclear materials that remain and providing a safe environment for 
future generations. The cuts made by this amendment will significantly 
delay the progress being made in cleanup efforts at these sites and 
will undoubtedly impact the highest risk activities--processing and 
disposing of tank waste, special nuclear materials, and spent nuclear 
fuel--across the complex.
  Additionally, failure to fully fund the Environmental Management 
program will result in missed regulatory milestones in many states 
where the sites are located, resulting in substantial fines and 
penalties from state and federal regulators. These fines will 
ultimately be paid by the American taxpayer.
  During my time in the House, I have proudly worked alongside my 
Nuclear Cleanup Caucus colleagues as well as the entire South Carolina 
delegation to ensure the safe and timely cleanup of Cold War-era 
nuclear waste. And I will continue to advocate for full and stable 
funding for the Environmental Management Program to keep nuclear waste 
cleanup on track.
  Consequently, even though I support my colleagues' efforts to restore 
funding for our nation's important missile defense program, I cannot 
support this amendment because of the detrimental effect the funding 
reduction will have on the Environmental Management program. We must 
remain committed to cleaning up our defense nuclear waste now for the 
benefit of generations to come.

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