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Wyden co-sponsors chemical
weapons resolution
Congress
wants Secretary of Defense to prepare schedule
By the East Oregonian
WASHINGTON
-- A resolution urging the Secretary of Defense to prepare a comprehensive
schedule for safely destroying chemical weapons stockpiles was introduced
in Congress this week.
Included in the resolution, co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.,
is a request that annual reports be sent to the U.S. Congress regarding progress
in the effort.
On May 9, the Army said it won't be able to fulfill the international obligation
to destroy the entire U.S. chemical weapons stockpile by the deadline afforded
by the Chemical Weapons Convention and were seeking an extension.
Congress is sending a clear message that it wants the safe destruction of
the chemical weapons to be a priority for the Department of Defense. Wyden
said it is not acceptable for the Defense Department to continually extend
the deadline.
Wyden said people living in the communities around the Umatilla Chemical
Depot deserve better.
The resolution was introduced by U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., and is
co-sponsored by both Republican and Democratic members of Congress.
Last May, Wyden also joined Salazar and U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.,
in passing legislation to prevent the transportation of chemical weapons materials
across state borders and into Oregon.
That law prohibits the Department of Defense from funding any study on the
feasibility of transporting the chemical munitions at the Pueblo, Colo., Chemical
Depot to out-of-state sites to be destroyed. The Umatilla Chemical Depot
was identified as one of the possible incinerator sites.
Wyden has been an advocate regarding safety at the Umatilla Chemical Depot
and in the surrounding communities. He has worked with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and Army representatives to ensure the maximum protection
for citizens living and working near the facility.
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