ANWAG Applauds House of Representatives for Support of Sick Nuclear Workers

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 Monday, June 17, 2013 - 18:07 Updated 7 years ago From Press Release
ANWAG Applauds House of Representatives for Support of Sick Nuclear Workers

Craig, CO - Through the hard work of Congressmen Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Jared Polis (D-CO) and Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and their staff, an important step was achieved for workers who were made ill by their exposures to toxic substances at the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons facilities. This bipartisan effort enabled a Sense of Congress amendment be attached to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

This action demonstrates the House understands that the creation of an independent advisory board to examine the Department of Labor’s Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC) is vital to ensure that claims under this program are adjudicated properly and in accordance with the law.One of the responsibilities of this board is to “advise the President concerning the review and approval of the Department of Labor’s Site Exposure Matrix.”

“I can’t stress enough how important it is for the claimants to have an independent advisory board reviewing the DEEOIC program,” stated Terrie Barrie, ANWAG Founding Member.  “I see denials of claims all the time where I just shake my head in dismay and ask myself, ‘What is DEEOIC doing?’  This proposed board will go a long way in ensuring that claims will be decided in a consistent manner, using the best science and the correct interpretation of the law. ”

“Both the Government Accountability Office and the Institute of Medicine have called for the creation of an independent EEOICPA Advisory Board,” says Deb Jerison, EECAP ExecutiveDirector.“Establishing this Board is crucial to providing EEOICPA claimants with an accurate and equitable adjudication of claims.  I want to thank each and every person who has been working to make the Board a reality.”

“One of the most egregious examples for the need of an independent review of the DEEOIC’s Site Exposure Matrix (SEM) is the recent removal of ‘guard’ as a labor category,”exclaimed Faye Vlieger of CWP.  “The change in SEM now shows that a guard would not have been exposed to any type of toxic substances, including radioactive materials.  This is a ridiculous assumption.  Anyone who worked at a facility knows that the security force guarded and protected the nuclear materials.  They were stationed in the process buildings and were exposed to the same toxic substances as the production workers.”

“I want to send a sincere “Thank you” to the House for addressing the issue of the Advisory Board,” added Donna Hand, President of Help by Hand.  “This will help establish confidence in this program and the fact that Congress is listening to the claimants’ problems.”

ANWAG sincerely appreciates the continued support of Congressmen Whitfield, Polis and Perlmutter and their efforts in achieving justice for the Cold War Patriots.  We look forward to a similar provision being included in the Senate’s NDAA and the final approval by the Conference Committee.