IV

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 80

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should recognize

the concerns of the peoples of Oceania and call upon the Government

of France to cease all nuclear testing at the Moruroa and Fangataufa

atolls.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 30, 1995

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA (for himself, Mr. HAMILTON, Mr. LEACH, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. LANTOS, Mr.

ROHRABACHER, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. KIM, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mrs. MINK

of Hawaii, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. DEFAZIO, and Mr.

MINETA) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States

should recognize the concerns of the peoples of Oceania

and call upon the Government of France to cease all

nuclear testing at the Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls.

Whereas the Government of France has been conducting nuclear tests over 10,000 miles from Paris on the South

Pacific atolls of Moruroa and Fangataufa in French

Polynesia;

Whereas since 1966 France has detonated at least 187 nuclear explosions above, on, and under these coral atolls in
2

HCON 80 IH

French Polynesia, including more than 140 underground

nuclear tests;

Whereas there is considerable concern among the 28,000,000

people of the 22 countries and territories of Oceania regarding the adverse environmental effects in the region

as a result of these nuclear tests;

Whereas the island nations of the South Pacific Forum were

among the first to collectively endorse permanent extension of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear

Weapons and have supported all international nonproliferation controls;

Whereas the island governments of the South Pacific Forum

have staunchly opposed France’s nuclear testing in the

region, applauded France’s adherence to a global nuclear

testing moratorium since 1992, and strongly deplore and

condemn any decision to resume France’s nuclear testing

in the South Pacific;

Whereas despite France’s claim that its nuclear testing program is absolutely safe, there is scientific evidence to

suggest both that radioactive leakage has already occurred at the testing site and that additional, more serious leakage might occur in the next 10 to 100 years;

Whereas there is also concern in the region that the coral

atoll, Moruroa, has been subjected to premature and accelerated aging as a result of the testing program, risking

the structural integrity of the atoll and increasing the

possibility of its disintegration; and

Whereas the leaders of France’s insular territory, French

Polynesia, have stated opposition to resume nuclear testing, joining fellow Pacific Island Governments, and it is
3

HCON 80 IH

inherently unfair that they should be used as a test site

for France’s nuclear explosions: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the

3 United States should recognize the concerns of the

4 28,000,000 people from the nations and territories of Oce5 ania and call upon the Government of France to cease all

6 nuclear testing at the Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls.

Æ