Latest News:
From: PATBNAAV@aol.com
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999
Subject: legislation
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Hi everyone--
The latest from Sen. Wellstone's office: #S 690 was attached as an
amendment to the larger benefits bill , passed the Senate Veterans Affairs
Committee and now must go to the House to reconcile differences. Still three
cancers in this bill: brain and central nervous system; colon and lung.
Rep. Chris Smith, R-NJ, introduced and was passed on house floor (before
the July 4 recess), a bill to add bronchio-alveolar cancer (a very rare type
of lung cancer), H.R. 1087. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by
Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-AR and maybe Sen. Phil Gramm, R-TX.
I talked to Lane Evans office. They will introduce their original 10-cancer
bill when they can figure out where the money will come from to fund it. So
far, nada.
It doesn't look too good for any substantial help for the atomic vets. I
spoke to Joe Violante, legislative director of the DAV, and I guess they're
really ticked about the beryllium issue for the civilian contractor employees
and not the radiation injuries for the atomic veterans regarding exposures
from radioactive substances.
Sorry this can't be more positive but that's the latest.
In spite of the fact that Rudy Florentine published in his latest
newsletter that the 10-cancer bills had both "passed," whatever that means,
don't believe it.
Pat
From: PATBNAAV@aol.com
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999
Subject: Various stuff
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Hi, everyone--
I recently received a copy of the latest NAAV newsletter (shame on you,
John), which indicated that both Wellstone's and Evans bills containing the
10 original cancers had "passed." That is not true. As I've told you
before, the three cancers, brain & CNS tumors, colon, and lung were added as
an amendment to the Senate Appropriations bill. It now must go to the House
to reconcile differences.
I have not been able to get hold of the person in the House Vets Affairs;
however, the last time I talked to her, she hinted that what may come down
(and this is just hearsay), would be Rep. Chris Smith's (N.J.) bill, which he
has introduced for the past 10 years, which only includes bronchio-alveolar
cancer (a very rare type of
lung cancer, which would not not include "lung cancer" per se. There is also
a companion bill to Smith's bill regarding the same thing. I hope to get
hold of the
person in the House Veterans Affairs tomorrow. If so, I'll email tomorrow
night.
I called the National Academy of Sciences today. The 5-series study
should be released by the end of September.
Caio
Pat
PAT BROUDY
Legislative Advisor