Transcript of testimony on DOE Radiation Compensation Amendment by Shelley Berkley, May 17, 2000 (3 pages)

Congresswoinan Shelley Berkley (NV-1) Testimony on DOE Radiation Compensation Amendment May 17, 2000 MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PANEL: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY VIEWS THIS MORNING. I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF JUSTICE AND FAIR PLAY FOR FORMER DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY WORKERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED DUE TO RADIATION-, BERYLLIUM-, OR SILICA-EXPOSURE OR OTHER TOXIC CHEMICAL EXPOSURE RELATED TO THEIR JOBS. FROM 1951 TO 1992, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TESTED NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOVE AND BELOW GROUND AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE, AMONG OTHER SITES AROUND THE COUNTRY. GROWING UP IN SOUTHERN NEVADA, I WAS FRIENDS WITH MANY CHILDREN OF NEVADA TEST SITE WORKERS. THESE FORMER WORKERS NOW SUFFER DEBILITATING DISEASES, HORRIFIC CANCERS, AND MANY HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF THEIR SERVICE TO THIS GREAT COUNTRY. WE AS A NATION HAVE A DEBT TO FULFILL TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUSTAINED PAIN AND SUFFERING....OR HAVE LOST LOVED ONES...DUE TO THE DANGERS THEY FACED AT SEVERAL ATOMIC WEAPONS SITES AROUND THE COUNTRY. THESE PEOPLE MUST BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS LOSSES. THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT THESE SITES WERE NEVER MADE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER THIS EXPOSURE TO RADIATION, BERYLLIUM, SILICA, AND OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS MIGHT POSE TO THEIR HEALTH. BUT WE NOW KNOW THE HAZARDS THAT WERE FACED, AND WE NOW HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. WE CANNOT SHIRK THIS RESPONSIBILITY, NOR CAN WE DELAY LIVING UP TO IT. THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT THESE SITES DURING THE YEARS OF ATOMIC WEAPONS PROGRAMS DESERVE COMPENSATION FOR ILLNESSES RELATED TO THEIR WORK. THEY WORKED HARD TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY, AND TOOK GREAT RISKS IN THE DEFENSE OF AMERICA. WE CAN NOW PROPERLY RECOGNIZE THEM BY PROVIDING THE COMPENSATION THAT JUSTICE DEMANDS. IT IS OUR MORAL OBLIGATION. I WANT TO STATE MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS AMENDMENT THAT INCLUDES COMPENSATION FOR SITE WORKERS WHO SUFFERED WORK-RELATED ILLNESSES OR LOST WAGES DUE TO RADIATION EXPOSURE OR OTHER TOXIC EXPOSURE. WORKERS FROM ALL DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SITES INVOLVED IN ATOMIC WEAPONS PROGRAMS DESERVE COMPENSATION. Thank You.