[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H3063-H3065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ENSURING PROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE NUCLEAR CLAIMS, RELOCATION AND 
   RESETTLEMENT COSTS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL 
                                ISLANDS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the House Committee on 
Resources held a hearing on a subject that I feel is critically 
important, and I wanted to take this opportunity to share it with our 
colleagues and to our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I deeply commend the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), 
the House Committee on Resources chairman, and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. George Miller), the committee's ranking Democrat for 
convening a hearing to review the long-term effects of America's 
nuclear testing program on our close friends and long time allies, the 
good people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
  Mr. Speaker, our great Nation owes an immense debt to the Marshallese 
people for their tremendous sacrifices that directly contributed to and 
continues to contribute to our Nation's nuclear deterrent and ballistic 
missile defense capability.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States in the 1950s detonated 67 nuclear 
bombs in the homeland of the Marshallese people, directly facilitating 
development of America's nuclear arsenal while poisoning the 
environment and the people in the Marshall Islands.
  Today the Marshallese people continue to contribute to America's 
security by providing U.S. testing facilities at Kwajalein Atoll. This 
atoll, Mr. Speaker, happens to be the largest atoll in the world, for 
development of our Nation's ballistic missile defense against rogue 
states possessing weapons of mass destruction.
  I want to share a little bit of data with my colleagues, Mr. Speaker. 
The total amount of TNT that was exploded

[[Page H3064]]

at the Nevada nuclear test site was about 1.1 megatons. Now, the amount 
of TNT that we exploded in the Marshall Islands was 93 megatons. If I 
could give another example, Mr. Speaker, the hydrogen bomb that was 
dropped in the Marshall Islands in 1954 was 15 megatons, which is about 
1,000 times more powerful than the two bombs that we exploded at 
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in World War II.
  Mr. Speaker, the actions of the United States Government have caused 
the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands immense harm, which 
continues to this day. With some 67 underwater surface and atmospheric 
tests of atomic and thermonuclear weapons tested in the Marshalls we 
have rendered uninhabitable, due to nuclear radiation, much of these 
people's homelands. We have disrupted their lives by removing them from 
their homelands and in some cases they have yet to return out of fear 
of radiation contamination should they return.
  On top of that, numerous Marshallese have suffered from cancers, 
leukemia and other life-threatening diseases directly connected to 
nuclear radiation poisoning.
  Mr. Speaker, because of the recent declassification by the Department 
of Energy of previously classified documents, we now know that our 
government has not always been candid and forthright with the people of 
the Marshall Islands. Because of what some would consider callous 
disregard and perhaps duplicity for the well-being of the residents of 
the Marshall Islands, they no longer trust our government to do the 
right thing.
  After a preliminary review of the facts, Mr. Speaker, I submit I can 
understand why our Marshallese friends feel this way.
  Mr. Speaker, I regret to report that this whole process has taken too 
long and has been woefully underfunded. In this time of expected U.S. 
budget surpluses from which the House of Representatives last week ad 
hoc allocated some $12.9 billion for Kosovo and defense concerns, Mr. 
Speaker, we really have no excuse for not addressing completely these 
serious problems which our great Nation has caused for the good people 
of the Marshall Islands.
  Mr. Speaker, I would urge our colleagues to support full and timely 
compensation for the nuclear-related injuries sustained by the 
Marshallese people when this matter comes before us. This is the very 
least we can do in recognition and repayment of the sacrifices made by 
the people of the Marshall Islands that have ensured that the United 
States remains strong, remains free and remains protected.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following for the Record:

                                                       U.S. NUCLEAR TESTS IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test No.      Date                Site                       Type            Yield (kt.)          Operation                          Test
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1         6/30/46  Bikini...................  Airdrop..................        21.00  CROSSROADS...............  ABLE
    2         7/24/46  Bikini...................  Undrwtr..................        21.00  CROSSROADS...............  BAKER
    3         4/14/48  Enewetak.................  Tower....................        37.00  SANDSTONE................  XRAY
    4         4/30/48  Enewetak.................  Tower....................        49.00  SANDSTONE................  YOKE
    5         5/14/48  Enewetak.................  Tower....................        18.00  SANDSTONE................  ZEBRA
    6          4/7/51  Enewetak.................  Tower....................        81.00  GREENHOUSE...............  DOG
    7         4/20/51  Enewetak.................  Tower....................        47.00  GREENHOUSE...............  EASY
    8          5/8/51  Enewetak.................  Tower....................       225.00  GREENHOUSE...............  GEORGE
    9         5/24/51  Enewetak.................  Tower....................        45.50  GREENHOUSE...............  ITEM
   10        10/31/52  Enewetak.................  Surface..................    10,400.00  IVY......................  MIKE
   11        11/15/52  Enewetak.................  Air Drop.................       500.00  IVY......................  KING
   12         2/28/54  Bikini...................  Surface..................    15,000.00  CASTLE...................  BRAVO
   13         3/26/54  Bikini...................  Barge....................    11,000.00  CASTLE...................  ROMEO
   14          4/6/54  Bikini...................  Surface..................       110.00  CASTLE...................  KOON
   15         4/25/54  Bikini...................  Barge....................     6,900.00  CASTLE...................  UNION
   16          5/4/54  Bikini...................  Barge....................    13,500.00  CASTLE...................  YANKEE
   17         5/13/54  Enewetak.................  Barge....................     1,690.00  CASTLE...................  NECTAR
   18          5/2/56  Bikini...................  Air Drop.................     3,800.00  REDWING..................  CHEROKE
   19          5/4/56  Enewetak.................  Surface..................        40.00  REDWING..................  LACROSSE
   20         5/27/56  Bikini...................  Surface..................     3,500.00  REDWING..................  ZUNI
   21         5/27/56  Enewetak.................  Tower....................         0.19  REDWING..................  YUMA
   22         5/30/56  Enewetak.................  Tower....................        14.90  REDWING..................  ERIE
   23          6/6/56  Enewetak.................  Surface..................        13.70  REDWING..................  SEMINOLE
   24         6/11/56  Bikini...................  Barge....................       365.00  REDWING..................  FLATHEAD
   25         6/11/56  Enewetak.................  Tower....................         8.00  REDWING..................  BLACKFOOT
   26         6/13/56  Enewetak.................  Tower....................         1.49  REDWING..................  KICKPOO
   27         6/16/56  Enewetak.................  Air Drop.................         1.70  REDWING..................  OSAGE
   28         6/21/56  Enewetak.................  Tower....................        15.20  REDWING..................  INCA
   29         6/25/56  Bikini...................  Barge....................     1,100.00  REDWING..................  DAKOTA
   30          7/2/56  Enewetak.................  Tower....................       360.00  REDWING..................  MOHAWK
   31          7/8/56  Enewetak.................  Barge....................     1,850.00  REDWING..................  APACHE
   32         7/10/56  Bikini...................  Barge....................     4,500.00  REDWING..................  NAVAJO
   33         7/20/56  Bikini...................  Barge....................     5,000.00  REDWING..................  TEWA
   34         7/21/56  Enewetak.................  Barge....................       250.00  REDWING..................  HURON
   35         4/28/58  Nr Enewetak..............  Balloon..................         1.70  HARDTACK I...............  YUCCA
   36          5/5/58  Enewetak.................  Surface..................        18.00  HARDTACK I...............  CACTUS
   37         5/11/58  Bikini...................  Barge....................     1,360.00  HARDTACK I...............  FIR
   38         5/11/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................        81.00  HARDTACK I...............  BUTTERNUT
   39         5/12/58  Enewetak.................  Surface..................     1,370.00  HARDTACK I...............  KOA
   40         5/16/58  Enewetak.................  Undrwtr..................         9.00  HARDTACK I...............  WAHOO
   41         5/20/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................         5.90  HARDTACK I...............  HOLLY
   42         5/21/58  Bikini...................  Barge....................        25.10  HARDTACK I...............  NUTMEG
   43         5/26/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................       330.00  HARDTACK I...............  YELLOWWD
   44         5/26/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................        57.00  HARDTACK I...............  MAGNOLIA
   45         5/30/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................        11.60  HARDTACK I...............  TOBACCO
   46         5/31/58  Bikini...................  Barge....................        92.00  HARDTACK I...............  SYCAMORE
   47          6/2/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................        15.00  HARDTACK I...............  ROSE
   48          6/8/58  Enewetak.................  Undrwtr..................         8.00  HARDTACK I...............  UMBRELLA
   49         6/10/58  Bikini...................  Barge....................       213.00  HARDTACK I...............  MAPLE
   50         6/14/58  Bikini...................  Barge....................       319.00  HARDTACK I...............  ASPEN
   51         6/14/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................     1,450.00  HARDTACK I...............  WALNUT
   52         6/18/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................        11.00  HARDTACK I...............  LINDEN
   53         6/27/58  Bikini...................  Barge....................       412.00  HARDTACK I...............  REDWOOD
   54         6/27/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................       880.00  HARDTACK I...............  ELDER
   55         6/28/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................     8,900.00  HARDTACK I...............  OAK
   56         6/29/58  Bikini...................  Barge....................        14.00  HARDTACK I...............  HICKORY
   57          7/1/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................         5.20  HARDTACK I...............  SEQUOIA
   58          7/2/58  Bikini...................  Barge....................      220.000  HARDTACK I...............  CEDAR
   59          7/5/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................       397.00  HARDTACK I...............  DOGWOOD
   60         7/12/58  Bikini...................  Barge....................     9,300.00  HARDTACK I...............  POPLAR
   61         7/14/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................          LOW  HARDTACK I...............  SCAEVOLA
   62          7/1/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................       255.00  HARDTACK I...............  PISONIA
   63         7/22/58  Bikini...................  Barge....................        65.00  HARDTACK I...............  JUNIPER
   64         7/22/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................       202.00  HARDTACK I...............  OLIVE
   65         7/26/58  Enewetak.................  Barge....................     2,000.00  HARDTACK I...............  PINE
   66          8/6/58  Enewetak.................  Surface..................         FIZZ  HARDTACK I...............  QUINCE
   67         8/18/58  Enewetak.................  Surface..................         0.02  HARDTACK I...............  FIG
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, United States Nuclear Tests: July 1945 through September 1992. Document No. DOE/NV-209 (Rev. 14), December 1994. RMI
  Nuclear Claims Tribunal. Annual Report to the Nitijela For the Calendar Year 1996. Majuro: 1997.


[[Page H3065]]


                                                    TABLE I.--CUMULATIVE DOSES BY EVENT AND LOCATION
                                                             (Finite Dose to Next Event)--mr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            EVENT                    BRAVO            ROMEO             KOON              UNION            YANKEE           NECTAR            TOTAL
Days between events                        26                 11              19                 9                  9              10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    AERIAL MONITORING
 
Lae..........................               5.5               12              12                 7.5               78              95                125
Ujae.........................               6                 32              17                 9.5               48               1.4              114
Wotho........................             250                270             110                55                 95               4                784
Ailinginae...................      \1\ 60,000              3,400           3,300                 8                600              70             67,000
Rongelap.....................     \1\ 180,000             11,000           6,000             3,400              1,700             300            202,000
Rongerik.....................     \1\ 190,000              9,000           5,000               550              1,400             280            206,000
Taongi.......................             280                 60               9.5              10                 10  ................              370
Bikar........................      \1\ 60,000              3,000           1,200               650              1,700             150             67,000
Utirik.......................      \1\ 22,000              1,200             700               100                330              50             24,000
Taka.........................      \1\ 15,000                800           1,000               120                380              50             17,000
Ailuk........................           5,000                410             110               100                500              20              6,140
Jemo.........................           1,200                410             130                18                200              20              1,978
Likiep.......................           1,700                170              80                30                200              16              2,196
Namu.........................               1.8               90             100                 0                 25               0                216
Ailinglapalap................               7.2              140             100                 8                  0               0                255
Namorik......................              20                160              70                 2                  0               0                252
Ebon.........................              20                250              50                 8                 25               0                353
Kili.........................              20                200              70                 0                  0               1.3              291
Jaluit.......................              20                300              70                 8                  0               2.6              401
Mili.........................              60                160             200                20                  0               1.3              441
Arno.........................              60                200             300                 8                 25               1.3              594
Majuro.......................             200                200              50                20                  0               1.3              471
Aur..........................              40                200              50                 8                 40               2.6              341
Maledlap.....................             350                120              50                 0                 25               4.0              549
Erilaib......................             390                200              50                 0                  0               6.5              647
Wotje........................           1,800                300             200                13                220              10             2,543
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Based on arrival estimated from Rongerik data.



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