Pelosi: Congress Approves Additional $73.6 Million for Cleanup at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard

Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today announcing the inclusion of an additional $73.6 million for cleanup at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in the fiscal year 2009 Defense and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bills. These spending bills were combined in legislation that passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday by a vote of 370 to 58, and cleared the Senate by a vote of 78 to 12 earlier today. It will now go to President Bush for his signature into law.

"Nearly 35 years after it closed, San Franciscans are still waiting for the Navy to fulfill its environmental cleanup obligations at Hunters Point while residents of the Bayview community continue to experience the highest rates of asthma, infant mortality and breast and cervical cancer in San Francisco by a wide margin.

"Once again, the budget proposed by President Bush fell far short of the amount needed to expeditiously complete cleanup and transfer of the remaining parcels. The President's budget proposed only $24.3 million for fiscal year 2009, which is even less than the unacceptable amount he proposed in last year's budget. At that level of funding, it would take well over 25 more years for the Navy to finally fulfill its environmental remediation responsibilities.

"In response, I worked with Congressman Chet Edwards of Texas, Chair of the House Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, and Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania, Chair of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, to boost those funds significantly. On behalf of my constituents in San Francisco, I want to thank them for their leadership on this issue.

"The $73.6 million provided in this legislation will bring economic empowerment to the Bayview Hunters Point community and allow families to live in neighborhoods free of harmful environmental pollutants, improving the health and economic well-being of thousands of Bayview residents.

"I urge my colleagues in the Senate to seize the opportunity to enact this bill law, thus creating and saving jobs in a difficult economy, providing essential tax relief to families and businesses, and speeding our transition to a clean, renewable energy and energy efficient future."