U.S. Rep. Matheson urges Utah unity against radioactive waste, outlines federal priorities

U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson addressed the Utah House on Jan. 28, thanking legislators for public service, recounting recent local disasters and Guard deployments, and urging collective opposition to proposals to store or ship radioactive or chemical weapons in Utah.

Matheson said radioactive waste storage would pose long-term environmental, health and economic risks, and he voiced support for state lawmakers seeking to prohibit ‘‘hotter radioactive waste’’ from entering Utah. He said he has written to the secretary of defense to question any plan to ship more chemical weapons through the state and reminded the chamber that, in his view, federal law prohibits transporting chemical weapons over state lines.

On transportation, Matheson described the stalled federal surface transportation bill and said hearings will begin in Washington within weeks; he pledged to advocate Utah’s priorities and noted the economic cost of congestion. On education funding, he said he favors reopening the No Child Left Behind law to increase flexibility for states but did not expect the White House to support reopening this year. Matheson said he planned to reintroduce legislation to prevent renewed nuclear weapons testing and thanked the House for a resolution opposing resumption of tests in Nevada.

Members questioned him briefly on transportation and education; Matheson said he would press for a bipartisan resolution in Congress. The House then opened for a few additional questions before dissolving the Committee of the Whole and returning to floor business.