Livermore- Four members of Tri-Valley CAREs, the Livermore, CA-based nuclear weapons watchdog, will be in Washington, DC from March 14 through 17 to release a "Nuclear Report Card" grading President Obama and his Administration on their first-year performance regarding nuclear weapons reduction, radioactive waste cleanup, and new reactor subsidies.
Tri-Valley CAREs will also meet with leading members of Congress, key committee staff, and agencies with responsibility for nuclear policy and budgets to press for new funding priorities.
The Tri-Valley CAREs delegation will be working with colleagues from a dozen other states who are participating in the 22nd annual Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA) "DC Days." The activists expect to meet with Senators and Representatives from California, leaders of congressional committees that oversee nuclear issues, and key federal officials, including at the Dept. of Energy, Dept. of State, Office of Science and Technology Policy and others.
Tri-Valley CAREs’ staff attorney, Scott Yundt, said, "The 2008 elections ushered in a new administration and Congress, creating the opportunity to redirect U.S. nuclear policy. After a year in office, it is now time to grade our elected officials on how well they are keeping campaign promises and implementing new priorities.”
Marylia Kelley, the group’s Executive Director, added, “We will also lay out an agenda for redirecting federal funding away from dangerous new weapons and risky subsidies for reactors and toward fulfilling the nation’s obligation to cleanup decades of radioactive and toxic waste, including here at Livermore Lab."
Kelley continued, “There are unfunded cleanup projects at Livermore Lab, including one to capture and detoxify the leading edge of the plume of toxic groundwater that has migrated from the Livermore Lab main site and is now under our homes, apartments, a city park and community swimming pool. We need this toxic mess cleaned up, not new nuclear bomb research that will further pollute our environment.”
Also on the Tri-Valley CAREs team going to “speak truth to power” in our Nation’s capital are legal intern, Iti Talwar of Livermore and Board Member Beverly King, also of Livermore.
The Alliance for Nuclear Accountability is a two-decade old network of several dozen local, regional and national organizations representing the concerns of communities downwind and downstream from U.S. nuclear weapons production and radioactive waste disposal sites.
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In addition, please note: Bob Schaeffer, (239) 395-6773, cell (239) 699-0468, and March 15 -19, (202) 544-0217 x2502
WHAT: News briefing to release First Year Radioactive Report Card on President Obama and his Administration to grade their performance on policies on nuclear weapons production, waste cleanup and reactor funding.
WHEN: Monday, March 15, 2010 – - 10:00am
WHERE: Room 2322 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC
WHO: Members of the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA), including:
- Michele Boyd, Director, Safe Energy Program, Physicians for Social Responsibility — taxpayer subsidies for new reactors, radioactive waste disposal, and nuclear contamination cleanup
- Ralph Hutchison, Coordinator, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance — new Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear production plants, the next generation of weapons they may help support, and the implications for U.S. treaty obligations
- Nick Roth, Program Director, Alliance for Nuclear Accountability — performance of President Obama and his Administration during its first year in office and changes that must be made to improve its grades.
Additionally, on Tuesday, March 16 at 6:00 pm, ANA will host an Awards Reception honoring leaders in the movement for more responsible U.S. nuclear policies. Awardees include U.S. Representative Pete Stark, Nevada Nuclear Waste Task Force leaders Judy Treichel and Steve Frishman, and Ira Shorr of Physicians for Social Responsibility. The event will take place in Room B-354 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
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