Political Quotes

“Mr. President, this country's success in the Second World War and in the Cold War was driven by our nuclear program. It was made possible by the Manhattan Project and the follow-on projects that made our nuclear program the envy of the world and the most powerful part of our military arsenal. And do you know what that was made possible by? It was made possible by the work and the sacrifices of everyday Americans in States like New Mexico and Arizona and, yes, my home State of Missouri, where we processed uranium for the Federal Government. These workers, these Americans who risked their lives and who risked their health in order to help their country build a program that helped us win wars--they deserve our thanks, not mockery. That is why finally, after decades, the Senate finally, in March of this year, passed my legislation with Senator Lujan by a huge bipartisan margin--nearly 70 votes--to compensate those good Americans who gave their health, who gave their energy, and, yes, in some cases gave their lives to sustaining our nuclear effort. Here is what happened in all too many places. In places like St. Louis, MO, and St. Charles, MO, when the uranium processing stopped, the government didn't clean up their mess. No, the government dumped the leftover uranium into public landfills, dumped it into public streams, dumped it into our waterways and into our soil. And now it is everywhere. Now it is underneath homes. Now it is next to our schools.…”