[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




FLOYD D. SPENCE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001

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                               speech of

                           HON. SHERROD BROWN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4205) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2001 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     fiscal year 2001, and for other purposes.

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Whitfield/
Strickland amendment. Workers in the nuclear weapons complex serve in 
our nation's defense, and it is time to make amends to those who have 
fallen ill in the line of duty.
  In the 1940s, the City of Lorain, Ohio in my district was home to a 
beryllium plant that produced nuclear weapons components. Exposure to 
beryllium dust can cause chronic beryllium disease, which is incurable 
and results in a lingering death.
  Although the Lorain plant burned down in 1948, the effects of 
beryllium have not been forgotten, and I continue to hear many tragic 
stories of the deaths of loved ones from beryllium disease. A few 
former workers are fighting for their lives even today.
  Non-workers in Lorain also fell ill. The Ohio health department 
identified 16 cases of beryllium disease in people who did not work in 
the plant, but lived across the street or washed their husbands' dusty 
clothes. These individuals or their survivors should also be eligible 
for compensation.
  Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this amendment. I also urge prompt 
hearings and committee action on H.R. 2398, the Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness and Compensation Act.

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