MCCONNELL GETS COMMITTEE TO
APPROVE AMENDMENT DIRECTING PENTAGON TO RELEASE FUNDS FOR WEAPONS DISPOSAL
IN KY AND CO
Accompanying Report Addresses Pentagon Accountability
in Chem Demil Program
The FY 2005 Emergency Supplemental Bill, favorably reported out of the full
Senate Appropriations Committee late yesterday will contain language directing
the Pentagon to free up funds for ACWA (Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives)
disposal projects in KY and CO.
The language, offered by Kentucky's Senator Mitch McConnell, will go to the
full Senate for a vote next week as part of the larger bill. If passed
and accepted by the House it is anticipated the bill will be signed into
law early next month.
The McConnell language directs that:
- the Department of Defense provide all 2005 appropriated
funds, currently held by the Pentagon, to the ACWA Program Manager within
30 days of passage [approximately $302 Million];
- the Program Manager obligate $100 Million of
those funds to activities associated with the KY and CO projects within 120
days of passage;
- no funds appropriated for ACWA in 2005 or any
previous years be spent on any other program within the Defense Department
[approximately $813 million, including '05]; and
- no funds be spent on studying transportation
of chemical weapons across state lines.
The Committee also released a report containing additional directives associated
with the chemical demilitarization program. The report directs the
Department of Defense to continue operations to destroy chemical munitions
and continue to develop new sites while studying options to address cost
growth and funding issues. It further directs the Department to deliver a
report to Congress within 90 days that:
- addresses funding requirements, year by year,
to comply with international Treaty obligations;
- provides a plan to fully fund the entire chem
demil program to comply with Treaty obligations;
- describes an fiscal execution plan for each stockpile
site individually; and
- addresses whether the Army should have executive
agent responsibility over the ACWA program (ACWA is currently part of the
Pentagon's responsibility).
The report also directs the Department to submit to Congress a report within
60 days of passage of the bill detailing the current status of all ACWA funds
and to submit similar reports every 60 days until all funds are expended.
"Passage of this bill will save the ACWA program, eliminate the dangers associated
with these weapons years ahead of the current Pentagon schedule, force the
Pentagon to live up to the commitments made to communities and fulfill America's
international obligations," said Craig Williams, director of the Chemical
Weapons Working Group (CWWG).
"Sen. McConnell has once again proven himself totally committed to the success
of the ACWA program and the safety of affected communities. He has
demonstrated that when he says 'I'm doing everything I can to fix the problem,'
you can take him at his word," said Williams.
This latest controversy involving the U.S. demilitarization program began
back in January when CWWG obtained and released internal memos and budget
documents showing the Pentagon's intentions to delay disposal at the ACWA
sites. Subsequently CWWG obtained information that the Pentagon was considering
interstate transportation of chemical weapons and that their plans would
miss treaty deadlines by up to seven years.
"The credibility of Pentagon officials in charge of chem demil now stands
at zero," said Williams. "Without Sen. McConnell's consistently strong
leadership and CWWG's doggedness, they would have completely gutted weapons
disposal projects in CO and KY by now."
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Copies of the bill and report
are available from the CWWG office upon request.
