[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 182 (Monday, December 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMEMORATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BHOPAL GAS DISASTER

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                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 7, 2009

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 25th 
anniversary of the Bhopal gas disaster. On December 3, 1984, 27 tons of 
deadly gases spewed out of the Union Carbide plant, forming a cloud of 
poisonous gas over Bhopal, India. As a result, 8,000 people lost their 
lives. In total, the deadly effects of this disaster have left 20,000 
dead and another 20,000 with chronic illness.
  A 2003 study by the highly regarded Journal of the American Medical 
Association found that children born to parents affected by this 
disaster still suffer the effects of Union Carbide's poisonous gases. 
In fact, a Greenpeace report documented the presence of chloroform, 
lead, mercury, and a series of other chemicals in the breast milk of 
nursing women who live near the factory.
  Just this past June, a report by the Bhopal Medical Appeal and the 
Sambhavna Trust Clinic found that the water in and around Bhopal still 
contains unsafe levels of carbon tetrachloride and other pollutants, 
solvents, nickel, and other heavy metals. Therefore, it is not 
surprising that populations in the areas around Bhopal have high rates 
of birth defects, rapidly rising cancer rates, neurological damage, and 
mental illness.
  It is simply unbelievable that Union Carbide refused to acknowledge 
which chemicals and gases were leaked for fear of legal liability. This 
left doctors to treat patients with no knowledge of how to proceed or 
what treatment to use. Union Carbide's use of unsafe and untested 
technologies led to one of the worst chemical disasters in world 
history. Rather than acknowledge the devastation they created and fully 
pay for the damages, Union Carbide decided to walk away.
  However, in 2001 Dow Chemical Company, based in the United States, 
purchased Union Carbide and acquired all of its assets and liabilities. 
To this day, Dow Chemical refuses to shoulder the liabilities and 
obligations that it took on when it purchased Union Carbide.
  Dow should clean up the factory site, which continues to contaminate 
the local environment and should go beyond simply providing 
compensation to the victims. Dow should also fund the necessary medical 
care and research studies necessary to treat victims and offer them the 
chance to live fruitful lives not plagued by chemical affects.
  I believe that the Indian Government has a role to play in ensuring 
that the survivors of the Bhopal disaster and those that continue to 
face its deadly effects receive dignified care. Despite an order from 
the Supreme Court of India that clean drinking water should be supplied 
immediately, more than 25,000 people in Bhopal are forced to consume 
water known to contain dangerous contaminates.
  Last year, along with 15 of my colleagues I wrote to Prime Minister 
Singh to express support for the people of Bhopal and urged him to 
personally meet with survivor groups to address the long-standing 
demands for justice. We expressed our hope that the Indian Government 
would pursue Union Carbide and Dow Chemical for their civil and 
criminal liabilities in the country.
  We argued the victims of the Bhopal tragedy were right and deserving 
in their request for a commission to execute social, economic, and 
medical rehabilitation, implement an environmental clean-up of the 
polluted land, and provide funding for clean drinking water.
  Today, thousands remember the lives lost in Bhopal and protest the 
current inaction and lack of responsibility associated with the Bhopal 
disaster. I hope that my colleagues will join me remembering the lives 
that were needlessly lost because of Union Carbide's negligence and the 
devastating effects that continue to plague the people of Bhopal.
  Although this may be the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, 
people are still dying from the horrible affects of the chemicals that 
Union Carbide's plant leaked. I remain dedicated to fighting for the 
rights of the survivors of the Bhopal disaster and ensuring that those 
in Bhopal today receive the assistance needed to live in a clean and 
healthy environment.

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