SENATOR SHELBY AND SENATOR KERREY ANNOUNCE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE VISIT TO LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. Senator Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senator J. Robert Kerrey (D-Neb.) Vice-Chairman of the Committee, today announced that eight Committee members will visit the Los Alamos National Laboratory on April 11-12. Laboratory scientists design and develop U.S. nuclear weapons and have responsibility for implementing the nuclear weapon stockpile stewardship program. The People's Republic of China is suspected of successfully conducting espionage at the Laboratory.
This visit is in furtherance of the Committee's unanimous decision on March 30 to Investigate allegations of lax security practices at the National Laboratories, as well as progress in implementing new counter-intelligence plans. Senior management of the Laboratory will brief Members on suspected espionage at the Laboratory, the impact of such espionage, and
measures planned and already taken to strengthen security. Of particular interest is the security situation involving e-mails, faxes, and foreign visitors, as well as visits to sensitive countries by Los Alamos scientists. Sensitive countries are those countries designated by the Department of Energy as representing a proliferation threat.
Senator Shelby said, "This visit represents an excellent opportunity to see first-hand what is going on in the wake of revelations about possible theft of some of our most important nuclear secrets. We must understand what happened and fix the problem."
Senator Kerrey noted, "This visit will give the Committee a chance to understand the circumstances under which the labs are operating. Their views will provide us valuable information on what has happened and what remains to be accomplished."
In addition to Senator Shelby and Senator Kerrey, the following members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence will participate: Senator Kyl (R-Ariz.), Senator Allard (R-Colo.), Senator Bryan (D-Nev.), Senator Baucus (D-Mont.), Senator Hatch (R-Utah), and Senator Roberts (R-Kan.)
211 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. 20510 .
|
