McConnell last week continued his campaign to force the Defense Department to move ahead with the destruction of 523 tons of chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Ky.

The Pentagon, citing rising costs, has put the project and a similar one in Pueblo, Colo., on hold pending a study of alternatives, including a possible redesign of the destruction plant.

It's a no-sale with McConnell.

"This Congress cannot and will not let them get away with it," McConnell, the majority whip, said on the Senate floor last week. "The department's foot-dragging on eliminating these weapons is simply unacceptable."

McConnell is sponsoring a provision in the supplemental spending bill directing the Pentagon to spend the money Congress already has appropriated for Blue Grass and to stick to plans for building a destruction facility.