McConnell Provision For The Blue Grass Army Depot Passes Congress

Press Release

*Legislation will soon go to the President for his signature*

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell announced today that the Senate passed the FY'05 Supplemental Appropriations conference report, which includes McConnell's provision that blocks the Department of Defense from redirecting funds appropriated for the disposal of chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army and Pueblo Chemical Depots to other facilities.

McConnell's provision, which is one final step from becoming law, does the following:

· Ensures that the $813.4 million in prior-year monies budgeted for Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) sites will not be transferred from Blue Grass and Pueblo to other sites.

· Forces the Department of Defense to spend at least $100 million at the ACWA sites within four months of enactment and provide Congress with a bi-monthly accounting of the monies.

· Prohibits the Department from conducting a study on the transportation of chemical weapons across state lines.

"I am pleased that the Senate and House approved the provision I authored for the Blue Grass Army Depot," said Senator McConnell. "This is great news for the citizens of Madison County, and I am proud to have led the effort to make it happen."

The FY'05 Supplemental Appropriations Conference Report now goes to the President for his signature.

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