It’s been a busy week on Capitol Hill and in other activities regarding toxic contamination at military installations. Here’s what you missed –
Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015:
- Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to select a VA medical center to serve as the national center for research on the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of the biological children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of individuals exposed to toxic substances while serving as members of the Armed Forces that are related to such exposure.
- Requires: (1) the Department of Defense (DOD) or the head of a federal agency to make available to the VA for review records held by DOD, an Armed Force, or that federal agency that might assist the VA in making determinations regarding individuals and descendents afflicted with a health condition as a result of such exposure; (2) the VA and DOD or such agency head to jointly establish a mechanism for the availability and review of records by the VA; and (3) the national center to employ at least one licensed clinical social worker to coordinate access of individuals to appropriate social and health care programs and to handle case management.
- Establishes an Advisory Board to oversee and assess the national center and to advise the VA regarding the center’s work.
- Directs DOD to declassify documents (other than documents that would materially and immediately threaten national security) related to any known incident in which at least 100 members of the Armed Forces were exposed to a toxic substance that resulted in at least one case of an associated disability.
- Directs the VA to conduct a national outreach and education campaign directed toward members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their family members to communicate information on: (1) incidents of exposure of members of the Armed Forces to toxic substances, health conditions resulting from such exposure, and the potential long-term effects; and (2) the national center. Requires DOD and the Department of Health and Human Services to assist the VA in implementing such campaign.
Have a look at the Toxic Research Act here: http://bit.ly/CE-Toxic-Research-Act
Senator Burr before the VA Committee:
Senator Tillis before the VA Committee:
Mabus Out of Step on Toxic Exposures at Lejeune: We won’t bother with PC speak by using the word “mischaracterization” of the issue or say that he “misspoke”. The man outright lied completely about the immediate impacts, issues and ongoing health catastrophe plaguing Lejeune. Disgusting.
Senator Blumenthal recently called these remarks “cavalier”:
Click to Subscribe to the Civilian Exposure Newsletter for Latest News & Updates Today!
2 comments
What is absurd was the government directing civilian employees to file with Workers Comp. Do they really think WC would process? No. Check that out.
The poison in the Lejeune water system was not selective. Water source was not selective. Why are they being selective about source of help for civilians who were afflicted?
I’d have to say because the intent was to reduce liability.
US ‘DRAFT ERA VETS REALLY HAD NO CHOICE AND WERE EXPOSED TO CAMP LEJUENE H20. I FOUND OUT FROM ANOTHER VET [WHO WAS DIAGNOSED BEFORE HE FOUND OUT] ON CHRISTMAS DAY 2015 THAT 45 YEARS AGO I DRANK THAT WATER FOR 3 YEARS. AFTER GETTING TURNED DOWN WHEN I APPLIED FOR DISABILITY, I WISH I WAS IN FLINT MICHIGAN. THEIR WATER CRISIS IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF. WHAT REALLY MAKES ME MAD IS I ‘HAD’ TO RETIRE AFTER WORKING FOR THE VA FOR 36 YEARS, AND NOTHING WAS MENTIONED ABOUT THE H20 CRISIS AT ALL. 42 YEARS WITH THE GOV’T AND THIS IS WHAT I GET.