$317 million for weapons destruction
By Ronica Brandenburg/Register News Writer

The president's 2007 budget request, if approved, will provide an additional $317 million in funding for chemical weapons disposal facilities in Colorado and Kentucky.

The Pentagon cut funding early last year to $33 million. Under the budget request, $350 million will be allotted for both projects.

The Pentagon's budget plan was met with strong opposition in Kentucky and Colorado. Local, state and federal elected officials also rallied for adequate funding, resulting in legislative action in Washington, led by Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Wayne Allard, R-Colo.

“I am pleased to see the Department of Defense took my advice and included sufficient funding for ACWA (Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternative) in the budget,” McConnell said. “While it is only the first step in the budget process, the people of Madison County can rest assured that I will not stop until all the chemical weapons are disposed of safely.”

The proposed $350 million includes $46 million for program management, $175 million for Kentucky and $129 million for Colorado.  The previous cut in funding would have resulted in continuing to store more than 880,000 weapons for at least five more years before beginning construction of disposal facilities.

“With strong citizen involvement and unprecedented unity from the grassroots base to Washington, D.C., we were able to turn the tide, and re-prioritize our nation's commitment to chemical demilitarization,” said Ross Vincent, member of the Pueblo, Colo., Citizen Advisory Committee member.

Craig Williams, director of the Berea-based Chemical Weapons Working Group, calls the recent budget “a unique victory.”

“To turn a Pentagon decision of this magnitude around in a little over a year's time, well, it doesn't usually happen,” Williams said. “People owe a debt of gratitude to their elected officials, especially Senators McConnell and Allard, for their responsiveness and focus on protecting these communities.”

The proposed budget increase reflects the interest in the president and the Department of Defense, said Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.  “I've said all along that the Department of Defense must make this project a top priority,” Bunning said. “This year's budget shows that the president and the Department of Defense have taken the proper cleanup of chemical weapons seriously.”

The importance of destroying the weapons lies much deeper than just meeting the international deadline for disposal.

“Not only do we have a treaty obligation to get these weapons cleaned up by 2012, but also we have a moral obligation to the community to ensure they live in a safe and healthy environment.”

Ronica Brandenburg can be reached at rbrandenburg@ richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.