[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SUPPORTING DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 11, 2010

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support H. Res. 1294, 
honoring those who are serving and have served courageously as 
Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel, as contractors or members of the 
United States Armed Forces.
  At home and abroad, unexploded ordnance (UXO)--bombs and shells that 
failed to explode during military training, testing, or operations--
pose a health and safety risk to communities and restrict opportunities 
for economic development. These still-dangerous explosives and harmful 
contaminants are located on or buried in millions of acres of former 
military lands in every state and Congressional district. Alarmingly, 
much of this land now serves as housing, schools, businesses, parks, 
and playgrounds.
  For the past ten years I have worked closely with my colleagues to 
direct Congressional funding and legislative action on UXO cleanup and 
increase investment in technology. In 2005, I formed the bipartisan UXO 
Caucus as part of an ongoing effort to increase Congressional 
awareness. The purpose of the UXO Caucus is to inform Members of the 
health, safety, and environmental risks of UXO and to highlight the 
challenges faced by communities and the federal government to clean up 
UXO and redevelop former military properties. Due to these bipartisan 
efforts, the Department of Defense has now named a program manager in 
charge of remediation, and additional funding has gone to technology 
that will better determine the location and density of munitions 
contamination.
  UXO technicians and units at home and abroad perform a selfless and 
dangerous task on behalf of the United States and we will forever be in 
their debt. Despite risking their lives for the health and safety of 
our families and communities, these heroes have largely gone 
unrecognized. I am extremely grateful for their sacrifices and I am 
pleased that we can honor them with this resolution highlighting 
National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day.

                          ____________________