Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

By Mr. AKAKA (for himself and Mr. Carper):

S. 640. A bill to underscore the importance of international nuclear safety cooperation for operating power reactors, encouraging the efforts of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, supporting progress in improving nuclear safety, and enhancing the pubic availability of nuclear safety information; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Furthering International Nuclear Safety Act of 2011 to enhance the implementation of the Convention on Nuclear Safety by taking a more systematic approach to improving civilian nuclear power safety. This legislation is cosponsored by Senator Carper, and Representative Fortenberry is introducing a House companion bill.

The still unfolding nuclear emergency in Japan serves as a powerful reminder that the United States as a Nation, and as an influential member of the international community, must continually seek methods to enhance the safety posture of nuclear facilities worldwide.

This year, April 26 will provide us with another sobering reminder: the 26th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine. The Chernobyl disaster was the worst nuclear power accident in history and made clear the need for international nuclear safety norms. According to a report commissioned by United Nations agencies, millions of people were exposed to high doses of radiation, and approximately 350,000 people were displaced from their homes. The countries most directly affected by the disaster suffered estimated economic damages on the order of hundreds of billions of dollars, while thousands of square miles of agricultural and forest lands were removed from service.

In the aftermath of this accident, over 50 countries, led by the United States, worked together to develop the Convention on Nuclear Safety. This convention was formally established in 1994, and the United States joined in 1999. Through the cooperative nature of the convention, which relies on peer-reviewed national reports and the sharing of best practices, countries that are party to the treaty work to improve their nuclear safety.

Although civilian nuclear power programs have become safer since Chernobyl, the unfolding disaster in Japan makes clear that we must not become complacent. In future months, Japan and the international community will assess the damage and how to prevent its recurrence. This bill will provide a stronger framework for United States engagement in that process.

Currently, there are nearly 450 civilian nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries around the world, and at least 65 more are under construction. Countries such as Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and Vietnam have started or expressed interest in civilian nuclear power programs. The global expansion of nuclear power should be accompanied by greater attention to nuclear safety.

Last year, the Government Accountability Office, GAO, completed a review of the Convention on Nuclear Safety in which GAO obtained the views of 40 parties to the Convention while carefully protecting individual respondent information. GAO found that the Convention has been very successful in improving nuclear safety but made recommendations to the United States Government that would enhance the Convention's effectiveness.

The bill I am introducing today will implement GAO's recommendations and additional steps to improve nuclear safety worldwide. This bill urges the United States delegate to the Convention to take certain actions to enhance international nuclear safety. This includes the United States advocating that parties to the Convention more systematically assess their own progress through the broader use of performance metrics. Additionally, to increase access to information about nuclear safety, the delegate to the Convention will encourage parties to post their annual reports and answers to questions from other parties on the International Atomic Energy Agency's, IAEA, public website. IAEA will be encouraged to offer additional support, such as providing additional technical support; assistance as needed for parties' national reports; and support for Convention meetings, including language translation services. Further, the United States delegate will encourage all countries that have or are considering establishing a civilian nuclear power program to join the Convention. Finally, this bill calls for the Secretary of State to lead the development of a United States Government strategic plan for international nuclear safety cooperation for operating nuclear power reactors and to report on progress made in implementing this bill.

International nuclear safety deserves our Nation's ongoing attention. As we continue to support Japan's efforts to prevent further deterioration at the damaged nuclear facilities, and as we approach the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, we should be mindful that the use and expansion of nuclear power needs to be combined with supreme vigilance and concern for safety.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source