U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell gave tribute to a Berea organization and its leader last week before President George Bush and the U.S. Senate.

Craig Williams, director of the Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG) local chapter, was praised for his work in the group that serves as a citizen's watchdog over the destruction of chemical weapons.

"For almost 20 years, Craig and the CWWG have been invaluable in their efforts to ensure that the millions of pounds of chemical weapons stored at Kentucky's Blue Grass Army Depot are destroyed as safely and expeditiously as possible," McConnell said.  "In large part due to their efforts, we are closer than we have ever been to taking tangible steps toward chemical weapons disposal."

McConnell also emphasized the close watch that Williams has kept on the Department of Defense, which is in charge of weapons disposal.

"The DOD has long operated in a less than transparent manner," he said.  "Craig has been another set of eyes and ears for the Kentucky delegation, keeping us abreast of what is going on--or not going on--at the depot."

Williams and the CWWG are honored to have received this recognition at such a prestigious level.

"All of us here are tremendously appreciative of Senator McConnell's strongly-worded tribute to our efforts," Williams said.  "We thank him for his ongoing and untiring work on behalf of our entire community and appreciate his kind words."

McConnell concluded his statement by emphasizing the importance of destroying the deteriorating chemical weapons stored at the depot.

"If not for the CWWG, hundreds of thousands of Americans would continue living indefinitely with the specter of an aging and increasingly unstable chemical weapons stockpile

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