Richmond Register
December 9, 2001

Bill would force Army to report on chemical weapons

by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced on Saturday that the U.S. Senate has approved his amendment to require the Army to report to Congress on methods to speed up safe destruction of our nations chemical weapons stockpiles.

The legislation is included in the Senate Defense Appropriations bill, which now goes to a House/Senate Conference Committee for consideration. Robert Steurer, McConnell's spokesman, said the bill passed late Friday night.

'The goal of this amendment is simple," said McConnell, "render the chemical veapons stockpiles safe so that surrounding communities can live without fear."

McConnell wrote the amendment, after hearing from people who live near a stockpile at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Ky. Residents there are upset, because Army officials have said the government probably will miss a 2007 international treaty deadline for destroying the nation's chemical weapons stockpiles.

In addition to Kentucky, the Army's chemical weapons stockpiles are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Oregon, Utah, and Colorado.

McConnell's amendment calls on the Army to describe the risks of storing the chemical weapons in light of new terrorist threats now facing the nation.

It also urges the Army to consider previous government studies supporting the disassembly and neutralization of the chemical weapons as a means of getting rid of the stockpiles. Such a method would be an alternative to incineration.

The same legislation also included more than $100 million in funding for several Kentucky projects included in the Defense Appropriations bill.

"Kentucky was a big winner today," said McConnell, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.

"Congress recognized the important role our state plays in providing the military with the resources and training necessary to defend our nation from both foreign and domestic threats."

The Senate approved $65 million for naval gun work which will be completed by United Defense and Raytheon in Louisville as well as $8.5 million for Fort Knox. According to McConnell's office, the base would receive $5 million for the Mounted Maneuver Battle Lab and $3.5 million for upgrades to the Mounted Urban Combat Training Site.

"Its imperative that our military remains strong and receives financial support from Congress," McConnell said. 'This funding not only provides critical defense for our nation, but also supports Kentucky's economy and helps save jobs."