DATE=6/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250967
TITLE=CONGRESS-NUCLEAR LABS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S ENERGY SECRETARY BILL RICHARDSON SAYS MORE NEEDS TO
BE DONE TO IMPROVE SECURITY AT THE NATION'S NUCLEAR-WEAPONS LABS.
THIS FOLLOWS ALLEGATIONS THAT CHINA STOLE SECRETS FROM THE LOS
ALAMOS FACILITY IN MR. RICHARDSON'S HOME STATE OF NEW MEXICO.
V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.
TEXT: EVERYONE AGREES THERE IS A SECURITY PROBLEM AT THE LABS.
BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON HOW TO FIX IT.
IN CONGRESS, THERE IS GROWING SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF SOME
SORT OF NEW SEMI-AUTONOMOUS [LARGELY INDEPENDENT] ENTITY, WITHIN
THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT, TO CONTROL THE LABORATORIES
MR. RICHARDSON IS WARY OF THE IDEA. HE SAYS IT WOULD BE BETTER
TO KEEP AUTHORITY WITH THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY AND A STRENGTHENED
SECURITY TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.
/// RICHARDSON ACT ///
WE NEED TO IMPROVE SECURITY AT ALL SITES, AND FENCING
OFF THE WEAPONS COMPLEX IS NOT THE ANSWER. PLUTONIUM
LOCATED AT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SITES DEMANDS
THE SAME LEVEL OF SECURITY AS PLUTONIUM AT LOS ALAMOS.
/// END ACT ///
BUT SECRETARY RICHARDSON KNOWS HE MAY HAVE TO COMPROMISE. JUST
LAST WEEK, A GROUP THAT ADVISES PRESIDENT CLINTON ON INTELLIGENCE
MATTERS ISSUED A REPORT CALLING FOR A COMPLETE RESTRUCTURING OF
THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT. FORMER SENATOR WARREN RUDMAN, A
REPUBLICAN FROM THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, CHAIRS THE PANEL.
/// RUDMAN ACT ///
THIS REPORT FINDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IS BADLY
BROKEN [DAMAGED], AND IT IS LONG PAST TIME FOR HALF
MEASURES AND PATCHWORK SOLUTIONS. IT IS TIME TO
FUNDAMENTALLY RESTRUCTURE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE NUCLEAR
WEAPONS LABS AND ESTABLISH A SYSTEM THAT HOLDS PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE!
/// END ACT ///
THE TWO MEN PRESENTED THEIR DIFFERING VIEWS ON REORGANIZING THE
ENERGY DEPARTMENT AT A SERIES OF HEARINGS ON CAPITOL HILL --
TESTIFYING BEFORE SENATORS IN THE MORNING AND HOUSE MEMBERS IN
THE AFTERNOON.
THERE WAS ALMOST UNIVERSAL SUPPORT AMONG LAWMAKERS FOR SOME SORT
OF DRASTIC RESTRUCTURING OF THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT. SENATOR
JOSEPH LIEBERMAN, A CONNECTICUT DEMOCRAT, SPOKE FOR MANY MEMBERS
OF BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES:
/// LIEBERMAN ACT ///
SENATOR RUDMAN'S REPORT, I THINK, SEALED THE CONVICTION
FOR ME THAT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IS CRITICALLY NEEDED AT
THE LABS. WE SIMPLY CAN NOT TOLERATE EITHER A CULTURE
OR ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT DOES NOT PUT
APPROPRIATE EMPHASIS ON SAFEGUARDING THE SECURITY OF OUR
NATION'S MOST PRECIOUS SECRETS.
/// END ACT ///
SOME SENATORS HAVE DRAFTED LEGISLATION MANDATING AN ENERGY
DEPARTMENT REORGANIZATION. THEY HOPE TO ADD IT TO A PENDING BILL
THAT DEALS WITH THE WORK OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PW/WTW
22-Jun-99 3:16 PM EDT (1916 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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