May 23, 2024

ICYMI: Congresswoman Bush Engages DOE Secretary Granholm on the Importance to Extend and Expand RECA During Oversight Hearing

 

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Department of Energy Secretary Granholm agrees federal government must compensate communities devastated by the Manhattan Project by affirming need for RECA

 

Washington, D.C. (May 23, 2024)— Today, Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) delivered remarks at the Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing with United States Secretary of Energy (DOE) Jennifer Granholm examining oversight of the U.S. Department of Energy. Through her questioning, Congresswoman Bush got Secretary Granholm to go on the record stating that the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) should be reauthorized and to affirm that the United States must take responsibility for exposure to radiation from the Manhattan Project, “no matter where they are.”

In her remarks, Congresswoman Bush also followed up on her previous conversation with United States Secretary of Energy (DOE) Jennifer Granholm regarding the Department of Energy’s efforts with the clean-up of Manhattan Project waste in her district.

A copy of Congresswoman Bush’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, can be found below.

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Opening Statement

Ranking Member Cori Bush

Committee on Oversight and Accountability on “Oversight of the U.S. Department of Energy.”

May 23, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Secretary Granholm, it’s wonderful to see you in DC after speaking at length about these issues with you when you visited my District. St. Louis and I are here today to discuss the climate crisis and need for clean energy, as well as the devastating impact nuclear waste—created and completely abandoned by the federal government—continues to devastate my community to this day.

Secretary, as you know, Black and brown communities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and we have been the most impacted by the failure of the government to clean up toxic waste. And, so, it is also essential that while we prioritize the transition to clean energy, we also address the legacy of pollution in our communities.

World War II is still killing people in my district. For over 80 years, we have been grappling with nuclear contamination left over from the Manhattan Project, particularly in Coldwater Creek, the main waterway central to our community.

In March of this year the Senate passed legislation that would reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act—which provides health screenings and compensation for people sickened by U.S. testing of nuclear weapons—as well as expand it to include St. Louis, and other areas that have been historically excluded.

But now, we are running out of time to act in the House.  RECA is currently set to expire on June 7th—just four legislative days away. 

Secretary Granholm, do you support the reauthorization of RECA?

Secretary Granholm: Yes

Congresswoman Bush: Thank you. What impact would a lapse in RECA have on victims?

Secretary Granholm: Well, I think it is critical that the United States take responsibility for the fallout of its activities in World War 2 on humans. No matter where they are, and unfortunately in a lot of our clean up communities it takes a long time to eradicate all remnants of radiation. So we have a responsibility as a nation and I hope we live up to that responsibility.

Congresswoman Bush: Thank you. I know that if we do not extend and expand RECA, victims will continue to suffer. 

While RECA is key to making our communities whole, we also must do the work to actually clean up the waste.  I recognize that a lot of the clean up has been dumped on the Army Corps, but I’d like to ask you about this as well. We’ve also heard a lot today about the purported benefits of nuclear energy, painting it as a clean alternative to fossil fuels.

Secretary Granholm, how is the Department ensuring that new waste created by nuclear energy is handled and disposed of properly?

Secretary Granholm: Thank you for that question. We are in the middle of a site based process, a community based siting process for nuclear waste currently as you’re aware for civil nuclear waste is largely stored around those plants, which is safe but it would be very helpful to the United States to have a national repository of nuclear waste that is safe. We’re in the process of this consent based siting effort. There have been 12 entities that have been funded to reach out to communities who are potentially going to raise their hand and to decide how to compensate those communities for doing that service for our nation. That process is in the middle, it takes a bit of time we’re modeling it after a couple of other nations that did the same thing. It takes a bit of time to ensure we get it right, but we're in the process of doing that and we hope that we’ll come out with a community or communities that are willing to do that.

Congresswoman Bush: I really appreciate your overview. When we spoke in person during your visit to my District we spoke about cleanup specifically in St. Louis. 

How can I work with you to follow up on your commitment to get a jobs training program funded by the DOE to train members of the community to expedite this clean up of Manhattan Project waste throughout my district?

Secretary Granholm: Let’s you and I follow up on that together after this.

Congresswoman Bush: I sincerely appreciate the Department of Energy’s efforts to ensure that additional waste is dealt with properly, communities like mine depend on it. So thank you for your work, and I look forward to working with you. 

Thank you and I yield back.