Jackson Statement on Japan Nuclear Crisis

Statement

Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee's State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee, issued the following statement:

"We are watching an unprecedented nuclear event unfolding in Japan. Japan is our ally and the Japanese people are our brothers and sisters. We need to prepare for every possible contingency in order to assist the Japanese people, particularly those who could be in harm's way, and I am confident that the United States government will do that. If necessary, we should assist those closest to the failing reactors in finding safe ground, whether on or off the Japanese mainland.

"Many of our leaders are focusing on domestic nuclear safety, and that is a very legitimate concern. But we must focus first and foremost on helping those who are nearest to the problem reactors and providing them whatever assistance we can to assist Japan in this crisis.

"The nations that use nuclear power have time to assess their policies. The people in the radius of those Japanese plants have no time. They need a global response to keep them safe."

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