[CPEO-MEF] Blumenauer on Defense Authorization Conference Report

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@cpeo.org>]

[Following are the comments made by Congressman Blumenauer on the Defense
Authorization Conference Report.  Of particular interest are his
comments regarding UXO legislation and BRAC.  --Aimee]



S. 1438: Defense Authorization Conference Report
Statement for the record by: 
Representative Blumenauer

Mr. Chairman, this conference report makes tremendous progress in
strengthening our nation’s policies in dealing with unexploded ordnance,
the bombs and shells that did not go off as intended.  I very much
appreciate the efforts of Chairman Bob Stump and Ranking Member Ike
Skelton in raising the profile of this important issue, and including
several meaningful reforms to  address the problems these discarded
military munitions cause communities throughout our country.  Our
colleagues in the Senate also made valuable contributions and I
appreciate their wisdom and hard work.  The sections addressing
unexploded ordnance are 311, 312, and 313 in the conference report. 
I hope that the activity on this issue during consideration of this
year’s defense authorization signals potential for additional steps
forward in the future.

Two of the four major provisions of the bill I have introduced,
the Ordnance and Explosives Risk Management Act (H.R. 2605) have been
legislated in this report.  Congress has finally stepped up to the
plate in the campaign to make former military sites safe.  In fact,
by requiring the inventory and prioritization scheme and establishing a
separate account, we've rounded first, and we're on our way to second
base.  In the near future, I hope Congress will reinforce efforts
within the Pentagon to put someone in charge of munitions response and to
fund that response at a level that will address the problem over the next
two decades, rather than the next two centuries.  We also need to
ensure that the Department of Defense, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, and the states are following the same regulatory framework.

It is important that another round of base closures is authorized in this
conference report.  However, delaying that effort until after
the next two Congressional elections and the next presidential election
is problematic at best.  Maintaining the infrastructure of military
bases left over from earlier eras when needs were different is a
tremendous unnecessary cost that prevents us from making the investments
needed to address today's changed security environment.

Please note new phone number and address below.

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Aimee R. Houghton                                 

Associate Director, CPEO

1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1000

Washington, DC  20036

tel: 202-452-8039; fax: 202-452-8095

Email: aimeeh@cpeo.org

www.cpeo.org

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