On the recordJuly 9, 2014
I thank the chairman for yielding. Madam Chair, I am happy to see $20 million included in this appropriations bill for the reimbursement of uranium and thorium cleanup. I also want to highlight the language in the bill that directs the Department of Energy to provide sufficient resources in future budgets to eliminate the reimbursement backlog, which stands at $54 million, and return to a more normal reimbursement schedule to ensure that a backlog doesn't occur again. The current backlog of $54 million grows year by year, with sites in Illinois, Colorado, Wyoming, Washington, South Dakota, and New Mexico. The way this works out in my constituency is that, in the community of West Chicago, Illinois, it had an adverse situation years and years ago with thorium that was spread throughout the community. They have done a tremendous job in the cleanup, but the cleanup needs to continue. I commend the chairman for his commitment, and I look forward to being part of this solution for the full remediation of this issue in West Chicago, Illinois, and in other places around the country.
