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“LAX SECURITY AT LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H4682 on June 20, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
LAX SECURITY AT LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
(Mr. VITTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, last year, following disturbing reports of lax security at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Congress passed and the President signed a law creating an Under Secretary for national security at the Department of Energy. This new position was created to strengthen security at our labs. Now Secretary Richardson objects to filling this post; and as a previous speaker said, he specifically took personal responsibility for security.
Now we know of another massive security breach at the lab. But is Secretary Richardson taking personal responsibility for these lapses occurring on his watch? Nope, not a chance. He has found a scapegoat in the University of California.
Madam Speaker, UC does have a contract to manage the lab, but responsibility for security lies with the Secretary.
Mr. Speaker, blaming the University of California for the security breakdown at the lab is like the captain of the Titanic blaming the head waiter for the iceberg. Of course, the captain did not; he took responsibility and went down with the ship. It is time for the Secretary of Energy to do the same and resign.
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