From: PATBNAAV@aol.com
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001
Subject: Wellstone's Effort to Aid Atomic Vets
Pays Off With White House Support
To: rucon@juno.com, pdxavets@aracnet.com
Just received a phone call from Wellstone's office, and this press release.
Needless to say I'm overwhelmed. I called Reuters and they are going to jump
on it. I also called several widows who will benefit. Please contact any of
your people who will benefit from the addition of lung, colon, bone, brain
and central nervous system, and ovary cancers to the presumptive list.
Pat Broudy
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From: Jim_Farrell@wellstone.senate.gov
Subject: Wellstone on Atomic Vets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2001
CONTACT: Jim Farrell or
Allison Dobson 202/224-8440
OMB Approves Benefits for Vets Suffering from Radiogenic Cancers
(Washington, D.C.) -- U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) today declared
victory on behalf of disabled veterans exposed to ionizing radiation, or 'atomic
veterans', their families and their widows when he announced that the White
House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has cleared the way for the
federal government to pay service-connected compensation to this group of deserving
Americans suffering from terrible cancers.
Wellstone, who has championed the plight of atomic veterans doggedly since 1994, said OMB's decision adds five radiogenic conditions __ cancers of the lungs, colon, bone, brain and central nervous system, and ovary __ to the list of diseases for which atomic veterans
may receive VA compensation on a presumptive basis. The OMB decision, for which Wellstone has long pressed, implements by regulation what he has pushed for legislatively in the Justice for Atomic Veterans Act, S. 1385. That bill was introduced in the 105th Congress, and Wellstone has repeatedly pushed to implement it using the Senate amendment process ever since.
"I am very proud that atomic veterans and their families will finally get the VA benefits and compensation they deserve, and also the recognition of the terrible personal sacrifices they have made on behalf of the nation, so long denied to them. This has been a long fight, but one that was well worth it. Atomic veterans and their families and widows, and advocates throughout the veterans service organizations, never gave up. OMB did the right thing in supporting compensation for our atomic veterans. This was a victory not only for atomic
veterans, it was a victory for justice and for all of our nation's citizen-soldiers. America is a safer place because of it. I especially thank VA Secretary Tony Principi for his leadership and crucial advocacy to obtain this OMB decision," Wellstone said.
The OMB decision requires the federal government to compensate disabled atomic veterans by adding 5 radiogenic illnesses to the list of diseases that VA presumes to be service_connected, removing burdensome, frustrating obstacles that have too often kept veterans who were exposed to radiation during military service from getting the disability compensation they deserve.
Wellstone previously criticized the Clinton Administration and the VA, which often weighed in against the measure, for its active opposition to helping atomic vets. An April, 1998 memo from then-VA Undersecretary for Health, Ken Kizer, stated that it was a mistake on the part of VA to oppose compensation for atomic vets.
Wellstone has frequently pointed out that his efforts for atomic veterans would simply make federal policy consistent. Last year President Clinton signed S.1515, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which would provide for the compensation of civilian employees exposed to ionizing radiation. Under that law, a veteran who applies for compensation from the Department of Justice for these diseases is given the benefit of the doubt, but without the Wellstone legislation or an OMB regulation, that same veteran could be denied service
connection by the VA. This defies common sense.
Atomic veterans were exposed to radiation at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and at atmospheric nuclear tests. For more than 50 years, many of them have been denied compensation for diseases that VA recognizes as being linked to their exposure to radiation __diseases known as radiogenic diseases. Many of these diseases are lethal forms of cancer.
Servicemen frequently were sent to measure fallout at or near ground zero immediately after nuclear tests. They were exposed to large doses of radiation, given minimal or no protection, and inhaled and ingested radioactive particles. Atomic veterans were given no information on the perils they faced at the time, and were sworn to secrecy about their participation in nuclear tests. Afterwards they were often denied access to their own service medical records, and were
provided no medical follow_up.
When atomic veterans try to claim VA compensation for non_presumptive radiogenic diseases, VA almost invariably denies their claims. VA tells these veterans that their radiation doses were too low __ below 5 rems, an assertion challenged by many scientists. The result of this unrealistic standard is that it has been nearly impossible for atomic veterans to prove their case. Scientists agree that the dose reconstruction performed for the VA is notoriously unreliable, but still it is used to bar veterans from compensation for disabling radiogenic
conditions. Four years ago VA estimated that less than 50 claims for non_presumptive diseases had been approved out of over 18,000 radiation claims filed.
Wellstone's efforts on behalf of atomic veterans have received strong support over the years from veterans service organizations, such as the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
PAT BROUDY
NAAV National Legislative Director