Sam Gibbons: “Today this body will consider a bill that will mandate transportation of the world's deadliest material through nearly…”

“Today this body will consider a bill that will mandate transportation of the world's deadliest material through nearly every community in this Nation. How can this bill that will send nuclear waste through our national parks, over our rivers, near schools meet the environmental standards of this country? The answer is simple. It cannot, it will not, it never will. H.R. 1270 ignores these requirements. This bill is in direct violation of the National Environmental Protection Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act, to name a few. Knowing of this bill's blatant disregard for the environmental safety, I offered an amendment before the Rules Committee that simply stated H.R. 1270 must comply with current environmental laws. It was rejected. It was rejected because if it was debated on this floor, it would pass. It was rejected because the nuclear power lobby spent $13 million making sure the Members of this body who oppose this bill will never have a voice in opposition heard. Vote 'no' on this bill.”