CWWG

Defense Bill Amendment Should Ensure Construction of KY & CO Weapons Disposal Plants Will Begin in 2006

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 or
 859-302-1103 (cell)
for immediate release, Thursday, December 22, 2005

DEFENSE BILL AMENDMENT SHOULD ENSURE CONSTRUCTION OF KY & CO WEAPONS DISPOSAL PLANTS WILL BEGIN IN 2006

Last night the U.S. Congress approved the FY ’06 Defense Appropriations Bill, which includes an amendment making it possible for monies allocated for the ACWA (Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives) Program to be used for construction activities. Previously, $33 million for ACWA facilities in KY and CO had been restricted to use for research and development, as requested by the Department of Defense (DoD).

Freeing monies for construction means that groundbreaking at the two sites should occur sometime in 2006. And the icing on the cake is that the amendment also provides $20 million in additional funds for ACWA.

The author of the provision, Senator Mitch McConnell of KY, said of this accomplishment, “My amendment provides $53 million for ACWA, including $51 million that can be used for construction purposes. After 20 years of working closely with the local community to ensure the safe and efficient disposal of chemical weapons, that is very encouraging news.”

Local residents, keeping close watch on the progress of the ACWA Program, are pleased with the good news and the continued efforts of their Congressional leaders to keep weapons disposal moving forward.  Craig Williams, Director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, commented,  “We are fortunate to have legislators like Sen. McConnell who keep on top of this vitally important issue.” 

Sen. McConnell’s latest legislative victory comes in the wake of other recent and successful efforts that:
  • prevented DoD from diverting funds from neutralization plants in KY and CO for use at weapons incinerators in other states; and
  • forced DoD to immediately begin spending money at both sites.
“We couldn’t be happier,” Williams concluded.
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