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“RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E561-E562 on April 7, 2006.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER
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speech of
HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR
of north carolina
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 4, 2006
Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I would like to commend my colleagues on the Committee on International Relations for their work on House Resolution 703, which recognizes the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. I strongly support this resolution, which serves as an important reminder of the work yet to be done to ensure a better future for people living in parts of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, and other areas, who have been affected by the disaster.
As the resolution makes clear, the United States must continue its work with other countries and international organizations to provide assistance to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. At the same time, as the resolution points out, it is also imperative that we support research into the public health consequences of the disaster so that the international community might benefit from the findings of such research.
It is in this spirit that I would like to recognize the Chernobyl Research and Service Project, an initiative underway by a coalition including the U.S. Department of Energy, the Ukrainian government, Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and RTI International. By studying the effects of human exposure to radiation, this project has a number of critical objectives. In addition to protecting the health and welfare of workers involved in the Chernobyl clean-up effort, the Chernobyl Research and Service Project aims to provide information that will lead to the development of more sensitive tests to detect and measure radiation exposure and its effects in the human population, as well as the development of more powerful treatment for victims of radiation exposure, among other things.
Today, as we remember the Chernobyl disaster, it is my sincere hope that programs such as the Chernobyl Research and Service Project continue in an effort not only to improve the lives of those affected by the catastrophic event that took place 20 years ago this month, but also to ensure that we are better prepared in the future.
I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this significant resolution.
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