Transcript of testimony on DOE Compensation by Shelley Berkley, September 21, 2000 (2 pages)

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (NV-1) Oral Testimony on DOE Compensation September 21, 2000 THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING. I ASK THAT MY FULL WRITTEN TESTIMONY BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD. I AM HERE TODAY TO STRONGLY URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT WILL FAIRLY COMPENSATE FORMER DOE EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS, INCLUDING WORKERS IN MY HOME STATE, NEVADA, WHO SUFFER DEBILITATING DISEASES BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPOSURE, SOMETIMES UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM, TO RADIATION, BERYLLIUM, SILICA, AND OTHER DEADLY TOXINS I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MR. FRED LOVE, WHO WORKED AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE AS A HELICOPTER PILOT, SOMETIMES FLYING, WITH HIS EYES WIDE OPEN, THROUGH NUCLEAR BLASTS. HE LOST HIS RIGHT EYE TO A RARE FORM OF CANCER ASSOCIATED WITH RADIATION EXPOSURE. I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF DOROTHY CLAYTON, WHO LOST HER HUSBAND GLENN AFTER HE SUFFERED FROM 5 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANCER, EVENTUALLY DYING A SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH. GLENN CLAYTON WORKED AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS. DECLASSIFIED RECORDS ESTABLISH THAT AT TIMES MR. CLAYTON WAS EXPOSED TO TRIPLE THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION'S ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES FOR RADIATION EXPOSURE. I AM HERE FOR YVONNE FLOWERS, WHO LOST HER FATHER, AND CLARA BROOKS, HER HUSBAND, AFTER HE SUCCUMBED TO CANCER AFTER WORKING AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. THESE PEOPLE, AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, TOILED IN SECRECY TO DEFEND AMERICA, AND NOW SUFFER FROM CANCER, SILICOSIS AND OTHER DISEASES, OR HAVE PASSED AWAY. THESE MEN AND WOMEN DESERVE OUR NATIONAL THANKS AND RECOGNITION AND THE ONLY WAY TO COME CLOSE TO THIS IS BY GIVING FAIR AND JUST COMPENSATION.