In a letter today, the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) confirmed that the Pentagon has adhered to the
directives contained in an Amendment to the 2005 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
Act (passed in May 2005) penned by Senator Mitch McConnell.
The Amendment required all previous funds appropriated
by Congress for Chemical Weapons disposal in Colorado and Kentucky, previously
impounded by the Pentagon, be released. It further required that of the total
amount (over $300 Million), at least $100 Million be released within 120
days of enactment of the Bill.
The letter, signed by GAO General Counsel, Anthony
Gamboa, confirms that all funds previously impounded have been released and
that $103 Million was released between May and September 2005, in compliance
with the Law.
Prior to McConnell's actions, the Defense Department
had frozen spending at both sites, delegating them to "caretaker" status,
and intended to maintain that designation for an additional five years. They
also proposed revisiting the option for transporting the weapons to other
locations for disposal - a move rejected by all potential reception sites.
Kentucky and Colorado communities objected strongly
citing the dangers associated with continuing to store the weapons or moving
them across the nations highways or rails.
According to Craig Williams, Director of the Chemical
Weapons Working Group, "The action by Senator McConnell, with support from
Colorado Senator Wayne Allard, broke the logjam inside the Pentagon, and
triggered the renewal of activities associated with the disposal projects
at both sites. It was a skillful and effective move reflecting the commitment
of both Senators to the safety of their constituents."
Williams also noted that the Amendment led to increased
funding in fiscal year 2006 and was critical in seeing significantly higher
funding requests for disposal in the 2007 budget submission, recently sent
to Congress.
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