Kentucky Governor and Legislative Leadership Weigh in on Chemical
Weapons Disposal Funding
CHEMICAL
WEAPONS WORKING GROUP
P.O. Box 467, Berea, KY 40403
Phone: (859) 986-7565
Fax: (859) 986-2695
www.cwwg.org kefcwwg@cwwg.org
for
additional information contact:
Craig Williams - (859) 986-7565
(859) 302-1103
Craig Williams - (859) 986-7565
(859) 302-1103
for
immediate release: Tuesday, February 20, 2007
KENTUCKY GOVERNOR AND
LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP WEIGH IN ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS DISPOSAL FUNDING
Fletcher Is Joined By Kentucky House and Senate Leaders In Communication to the Pentagon Urging Full Funding For Disposal Project
Fletcher Is Joined By Kentucky House and Senate Leaders In Communication to the Pentagon Urging Full Funding For Disposal Project
In a
strongly worded letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England,
Governor Ernie Fletcher, along with Republican and Democratic leaders
of the Kentucky Legislature, called for full funding for the chemical
weapons disposal project in Madison County.
In the February 8, 2007 letter was prompted by news that Pentagon funding cuts to the chemical weapons disposal prorgram would push the completion date all the way to 2023. In it, Senate President David Williams, Speaker of the House Jody Richards along with Senator Ed Worley and Representative Harry Moberly expressed their "deepest concern with the projected funding profile for disposing of the chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot."
The letter cited numerous reports identifying the risks associated with the continuing to store the weapons in Kentucky, noting that the Army's own analysis shows over 20,000 fatalities under a worst case accident. "The only way to eliminated risks is to expedite the disposal effort," said Fletcher.
"This bipartisan message from our State is most welcome," said Craig Williams. "It complements the position of our delegation in Washington and is an important statement reflecting the unity between the local, state and federal levels. It also shows that when it comes to getting rid of WMD's here at home, party politics can take a back seat to protecting our citizens."
The letter to Mr. England ends by saying, "We urge you to fully fund this project in the interests of complying with our international treaty obligations, the long-term savings to taxpayers associated with swift disposal, and most importantly, in the fulfilling of the military's foremost responsibility - the protection of the citizens of the United States of America."
In the February 8, 2007 letter was prompted by news that Pentagon funding cuts to the chemical weapons disposal prorgram would push the completion date all the way to 2023. In it, Senate President David Williams, Speaker of the House Jody Richards along with Senator Ed Worley and Representative Harry Moberly expressed their "deepest concern with the projected funding profile for disposing of the chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot."
The letter cited numerous reports identifying the risks associated with the continuing to store the weapons in Kentucky, noting that the Army's own analysis shows over 20,000 fatalities under a worst case accident. "The only way to eliminated risks is to expedite the disposal effort," said Fletcher.
"This bipartisan message from our State is most welcome," said Craig Williams. "It complements the position of our delegation in Washington and is an important statement reflecting the unity between the local, state and federal levels. It also shows that when it comes to getting rid of WMD's here at home, party politics can take a back seat to protecting our citizens."
The letter to Mr. England ends by saying, "We urge you to fully fund this project in the interests of complying with our international treaty obligations, the long-term savings to taxpayers associated with swift disposal, and most importantly, in the fulfilling of the military's foremost responsibility - the protection of the citizens of the United States of America."
--30--
copies
of the letter are available upon request from the CWWG office
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