Issue Position: Defense and Homeland Security - Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Issue Position

Congressman Blumenauer has championed the effort to raise awareness and response to unexploded ordnance (UXO), the millions of discarded bombs and munitions that litter American lands and waters. These 2,500 sites exist in every state and Congressional district, and include Camp Bonneville in Vancouver, Washington and the Spring Valley neighborhood in Washington, DC. Congressman Blumenauer has worked closely with his colleagues and the Pentagon to provide funds for the cleanup of military lands.

To continue to raise awareness of this issue, Congressman Blumenauer founded and now co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Unexploded Ordnance Caucus . Successes include requiring the Department of Defense to compile an inventory of UXO sites and to establish a program manager for UXO at the Pentagon. For years, the Congressman has lead successful bipartisan efforts for greater funding for remediation research and development. On the international front, Congressman Blumenauer organized the first-ever Congressional letter to the negotiators for the Convention on Conventional Weapons. The bipartisan message urged greater action dealing with the Explosive Remnants of War, such as creating clear responsibility for its cleanup and implementing procedures to reduce risk in civilian areas.

Source