Thomas Daschle: “I want to update the Senate on a situation that is of interest to many people and of acute interest to many of us: the…”

“I want to update the Senate on a situation that is of interest to many people and of acute interest to many of us: the remediation of the Hart Senate Office Building. It was 3 weeks ago yesterday that an envelope containing anthrax was opened in my Hart office by a member of my staff. It is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency to recommend how the Hart Building is to be remediated. No other entity has the expertise to make those recommendations. One week ago today, on October 30, the Environmental Protection Agency officially took control of the Hart Building and the Hart remediation project. At the time, EPA officials outlined for us what they said was an experimental but promising plan to use a chlorine dioxide fumigant throughout the building to kill the anthrax spores. Under that plan, the Hart Building could have reopened as early as November 13--1 week from today. Unfortunately, it is now clear that EPA will not be able to meet its initial optimistic schedule. EPA now says that the Hart Building will not re-open until at least November 21.”