[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 55 (Thursday, April 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2544-S2545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 153--RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
                       CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER

  Mr. LUGAR (for himself and Mr. Kerry) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 153

       Whereas at 1:23 A.M. on April 26, 1986, during an 
     experiment, a major explosion occurred at the Chernobyl 
     Nuclear Power Plant in Unit 4, a RBMK 1000-type, graphite-
     moderated nuclear power reactor in Pripyat;
       Whereas the initial explosion dispersed a stream of 
     radioactive particles over nearby towns, farms, and 
     eventually to many other countries;
       Whereas 500,000 brave firefighters, engineers, technicians, 
     and emergency workers worked for more than 6 months to 
     minimize one of the worst civilian nuclear disasters in 
     history;
       Whereas radioactivity emanating from the Chernobyl disaster 
     has been detected in Belarus, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, 
     and other areas;
       Whereas since the disaster, serious health, environmental, 
     and socioeconomic repercussions have been identified in many 
     areas near the Chernobyl plant;
       Whereas the Chernobyl Forum, an initiative by the 
     International Atomic Energy Agency in cooperation with the 
     World Health Organization, numerous United Nations agencies, 
     and the governments of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, was 
     launched in 2003 to examine the scientific evidence of human 
     and environmental effects of the nuclear disaster at 
     Chernobyl;
       Whereas the Chernobyl Forum's examination of the 
     catastrophe has contributed to the understanding of the 
     effects caused by the nuclear disaster;
       Whereas the Chernobyl Forum found that more than 5,000,000 
     people lived in ``contaminated'' areas in Ukraine, Belarus, 
     Russia, and other countries;
       Whereas the lives and wellness of people in the affected 
     areas continue to be impacted by the catastrophic Chernobyl 
     nuclear disaster;
       Whereas the government of the United States, the people of 
     the United States, and the international community have 
     provided contributions to humanitarian organizations to 
     address the effects of the Chernobyl disaster;
       Whereas the Chernobyl Shelter Fund (CSF) was established in 
     December 1997 by the G7, in cooperation with Ukraine;
       Whereas the purpose of the CSF has been to construct a safe 
     confinement over the damaged Chernobyl Unit 4 and to convert 
     the site to a stable and environmentally safe condition;
       Whereas the Nuclear Safety Account (NSA), supported by the 
     United States and 16 other donors, finances the Interim Spent 
     Fuel Storage Facility that allows for the decommissioning of 
     Chernobyl Units 1 through 3;
       Whereas April 26, 2011, is the 25th anniversary of the 
     Chernobyl nuclear disaster; and
       Whereas the ongoing crisis in Japan at the Fukushima 
     nuclear power plant serves as a reminder to the United States 
     and the international community of the need to make strong 
     commitments to nuclear security throughout the world: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl 
     nuclear disaster and the courage of the Ukrainian people in 
     persevering to address the consequences of the disaster;
       (2) commends efforts to mitigate the consequences of the 
     Chernobyl nuclear disaster, including the assistance that the 
     United States and the international community have given to 
     the Chernobyl Shelter Fund and the Interim Spent Fuel Storage 
     Facility; and
       (3) requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to the Ambassador of Ukraine 
     to the United States.

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