By Debbie Gregory.

According to a recent report from the House Oversight and Reform Committee, key members of the Trump administration were in favor of selling nuclear power plants to Saudi Arabia in spite of objections from members of the National Security Council and other senior White House officials.

The 24-page report is entitled Whistleblowers Raise Grave Concerns with. Trump Administration’s Efforts to Transfer Sensitive Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia and is based on the accounts of unnamed whistleblowers and internal White House documents.

According to the report, objectors, including White House lawyers and National Security Council officials, opposed the plan out of concern that it violated laws designed to prevent the transfer of nuclear technology that could be used to support a weapons program.

The report warns that White House efforts to transfer sensitive U.S. nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia may be accelerating after meetings last week at the White House and ahead of a planned visit to Saudi Arabia by the President’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, issued an interim staff report after multiple whistleblowers came forward to warn about efforts inside the White House to rush the transfer of highly sensitive U.S. nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia in potential violation of the Atomic Energy Act and without review by Congress, which is required by law.

Some Republicans on Capitol Hill have criticized the report and characterized it as being inaccurate and politically motivated, but in the aftermath of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, many members of Congress have expressed reluctance to continue relations with Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and prominent critic of Saudi Arabian leadership, was killed within the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last October. The U.S. Senate issued a resolution condemning Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Khashoggi’s murder in December, following a CIA report concluding his responsibility.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation that would strengthen the power of Congress to stop a U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal.

Saudi officials have said they would like to buy nuclear power plants so that their country is not totally reliant on oil, and as a way to compete with Iran.

Veteran and Military Business Owners Association, VAMBOA,

By Debbie Gregory.

By Debbie Gregory.

Following the report that at least 126 U.S. military installations tested at “higher than acceptable” concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water sources, members of Congress have created a bi-partisan task force to help constituents affected by the contamination.

Representatives Dan Kildee (D-MI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) are co-chairing the Congressional PFAS Task Force, which seeks to highlight the role of PFAS affecting drinking water in communities across

Members of Congress from states affected by PFAS have been pushing for more funding and studies for years, but by creating a task force they hope to form a stronger coalition to pressure the federal agencies involved.

Fitzpatrick believes the manufacturers of PFAS should bear the burden of the cost of remediation.

PFAS, used in firefighting foams at military bases, have been linked to cancer, fertility problems, liver damage, high cholesterol, and other health problems.

The military is in the process of testing more than 400 bases nationwide for similar contamination. The process will take years and cost millions of dollars..

“Rather than dealing with these things individually when it comes to (funding and remediation)… we figured it was a good idea to get all the members of Congress who are dealing with similar issues in their communities together in one task force, so we can kind of speak with one voice and get the problem addressed,” Fitzpatrick said.

If the EPA designated PFAS as a hazardous substance, it would create a maximum contaminant level (MCL), which would apply nationwide. EPA regulation would also give residents recourse for civil lawsuits, allow criminal charges to be brought against polluters, and help value properties affected by contamination.

The Task Force will work to:

• Hold informational events to educate Members of Congress and their staff to increase awareness about PFAS chemicals.
• Craft legislation to address PFAS contamination.
• Meet with congressional leadership, committee chairs and ranking members to ensure PFAS is adequately and more urgently addressed.
• Fight for more robust funding through federal appropriations to clean up PFAS contamination.

Veteran and Military Business Owners Association, VAMBOA,