DATE=6/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250967
TITLE=CONGRESS-NUCLEAR LABS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S ENERGY SECRETARY BILL RICHARDSON SAYS MORE NEEDS TO 
BE DONE TO IMPROVE SECURITY AT THE NATION'S NUCLEAR-WEAPONS LABS.
THIS FOLLOWS ALLEGATIONS THAT CHINA STOLE SECRETS FROM THE LOS 
ALAMOS FACILITY IN MR. RICHARDSON'S HOME STATE OF NEW MEXICO.  
V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.

TEXT:  EVERYONE AGREES THERE IS A SECURITY PROBLEM AT THE LABS.  
BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON HOW TO FIX IT.

IN CONGRESS, THERE IS GROWING SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF SOME 
SORT OF NEW SEMI-AUTONOMOUS [LARGELY INDEPENDENT] ENTITY, WITHIN 
THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT, TO CONTROL THE LABORATORIES

MR. RICHARDSON IS WARY OF THE IDEA.  HE SAYS IT WOULD BE BETTER 
TO KEEP AUTHORITY WITH THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY AND A STRENGTHENED
SECURITY TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.

                     /// RICHARDSON ACT ///

         WE NEED TO IMPROVE SECURITY AT ALL SITES, AND FENCING 
         OFF THE WEAPONS COMPLEX IS  NOT  THE ANSWER.  PLUTONIUM 
         LOCATED AT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SITES DEMANDS 
         THE SAME LEVEL OF SECURITY AS PLUTONIUM AT LOS ALAMOS.

                         /// END ACT ///

BUT SECRETARY RICHARDSON KNOWS HE MAY HAVE TO COMPROMISE.  JUST 
LAST WEEK, A GROUP THAT ADVISES PRESIDENT CLINTON ON INTELLIGENCE
MATTERS ISSUED A REPORT CALLING  FOR A COMPLETE RESTRUCTURING OF 
THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT.  FORMER SENATOR WARREN RUDMAN, A 
REPUBLICAN FROM THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, CHAIRS THE PANEL.

                       /// RUDMAN ACT ///

         THIS REPORT FINDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IS BADLY
         BROKEN [DAMAGED], AND IT IS LONG PAST TIME FOR HALF 
         MEASURES AND PATCHWORK SOLUTIONS.  IT IS TIME TO 
         FUNDAMENTALLY RESTRUCTURE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE NUCLEAR 
         WEAPONS LABS AND ESTABLISH A SYSTEM THAT HOLDS PEOPLE 
         ACCOUNTABLE!

                         /// END ACT ///

THE TWO MEN PRESENTED THEIR DIFFERING VIEWS ON REORGANIZING THE 
ENERGY DEPARTMENT AT A SERIES OF HEARINGS ON CAPITOL HILL -- 
TESTIFYING BEFORE SENATORS IN THE MORNING AND HOUSE MEMBERS IN 
THE AFTERNOON.

THERE WAS ALMOST UNIVERSAL SUPPORT AMONG LAWMAKERS FOR SOME SORT 
OF DRASTIC RESTRUCTURING OF THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT.  SENATOR 
JOSEPH LIEBERMAN, A CONNECTICUT DEMOCRAT, SPOKE FOR MANY MEMBERS 
OF BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES:

                      /// LIEBERMAN ACT ///

         SENATOR RUDMAN'S REPORT, I THINK, SEALED THE CONVICTION 
         FOR ME THAT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IS CRITICALLY NEEDED AT 
         THE LABS.  WE SIMPLY CAN  NOT  TOLERATE EITHER A CULTURE
         OR ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT DOES  NOT  PUT 
         APPROPRIATE EMPHASIS ON SAFEGUARDING THE SECURITY OF OUR
         NATION'S MOST PRECIOUS SECRETS.

                         /// END ACT ///

SOME SENATORS HAVE DRAFTED LEGISLATION MANDATING AN ENERGY 
DEPARTMENT REORGANIZATION.  THEY HOPE TO ADD IT TO A PENDING BILL
THAT DEALS WITH THE WORK OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/PW/WTW

22-Jun-99 3:16 PM EDT (1916 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.