Congressman Salazar: No Transport of Chemical Weapons Through Our Neighborhoods

Salazar Participates in Armed Services Committee Hearing, Questions DOD

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John T. Salazar (CO-3), who has led the effort in Congress to prevent the transport of chemical weapons across state lines, expressed his dismay today that the Department of Defense will not destroy the weapons at the Pueblo Chemical Depot site as planned. Salazar participated in a House Armed Services Committee hearing this afternoon, where he questioned the DOD’s plans to delay weapons destruction and meet international treaty deadlines.

“I am shocked that the DOD is still considering moving volatile chemical weapons through our neighborhoods,” said Salazar. “Last week’s news about partially restored funding followed months of good faith discussions between the DOD, the community, and legislators. The DOD’s admission today is an insult to the work the community has done in the last twenty years, making it clear that legislation is needed to make sure that we destroy chemical weapons on time.”

Salazar has introduced legislation - H.R. 416 - to limit the Army’s ability to transport weapons across state lines. Salazar’s bill has gained bi-partisan support from around the country. Recent co-sponsors include Congressmen Greg Walden (R-OR) and Wayne Gilcrest (R-MD). The complete bill summary and list of co-sponsors can be found at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR00416:@@@L&summ2=m&

“It is a waste of taxpayer money to study a plan that will only increase the danger to local communities,” said Salazar. “We need to take care of the problem now, not transfer it to other communities to be dealt with at a later date.”