CWWG

KY Senator Locks In Construction Funds for KY and CO Chem Weapons Disposal Programs

Chemical Weapons Working Group
128 Main St. Berea KY 40403
859-986-7565  859-986-2695 (F)
www.cwwg.org    craig@cwwg.org
for more information:
Craig Williams:  (859) 986-7565
(859) 302-1103
for immediate release: Wedneday July 20, 2005

KY SENATOR LOCKS IN CONSTRUCTION FUNDS FOR  KENTUCKY AND COLORADO CHEMICAL WEAPONS DISPOSAL PROGRAMS
Senator Mitch McConnell has achieved another critical step toward ensuring chemical weapons destruction projects in Kentucky and Colorado can go forward as quickly as possible.  Having won approval of an additional $20 million to the 2006 Defense Budget for the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) program last May, the Senator recently secured a follow-up provision that allows these funds, plus the $33 million requested by the Pentagon, to be used for construction, a critical element in smooth execution of the program.

Before the Senator's intervention, there were no monies in the 2006 budget that could have been used for construction at the two ACWA sites, a situation that would have kept both projects at an untenable snail's pace for all of next year.  With Sen. McConnell's latest discerning move, it is predicted that both Pueblo and Blue Grass could break ground sometime in 2006.

About this situation, Sen. McConnell commented, "This fiscal year, DoD requested $33 million of the wrong kind of money.  My provision provides $53 million of money which can be used for construction purposes.  These monies should put us on a path to begin preliminary construction next year."

This latest legislative effort comes on the heels of a provision inserted by Sen. McConnell in the War Supplemental Appropriations Bill, which effectively prevented the DoD from pilfering funds from the ACWA programs to spend for operations at other weapons disposal facilities.  The provision also forced DoD to remove Kentucky and Pueblo from "caretaker status" and start spending money on the two programs immediately.

Of the Senator's latest accomplishment, Craig Williams, executive director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, said,  "Senator McConnell has proven once again that he continues to keep his eyes open and find effective ways to protect these two important projects against the whims of DoD officials who have tried to derail the safe and expeditious destruction of these weapons in Kentucky and Colorado every step of the way."

    
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Chemical Weapons Working Group
Kentucky Environmental Foundation
P.O. Box 467
Berea, KY 40403
phone: 859-986-7565
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