[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 125 (Thursday, September 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS OF PROJECT 112/PROJECT SHAD ACT OF 2003

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                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2003

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, in this uncertain time, our nation is looking 
to the brave men and women of our armed forces. They have never 
hesitated in answering their nation's call and giving of their time and 
service. Our nation owes them a debt that we can never repay. That is 
why it is unconscionable that in the 1960s, our Department of Defense 
intentionally exposed U.S. military personnel to toxic chemicals as an 
experiment, without their knowledge or consent. In effect, they made 
our military personnel unwilling human guinea pigs.
  I strongly support H.R. 2433, the Health Care for Veterans of Project 
112/Project SHAD Act of 2003, which the House passed today. We cannot 
change what happened forty years ago. But now we can try to make it 
right. This legislation is an important first step in requiring our 
government to make full disclosure about the tests conducted and the 
chemical agents to which our military personnel were exposed. H.R. 2433 
will also make improvements to the retention and recruitment of health 
care professionals; provide additional pay for Saturday tours of duty 
for additional health care workers in the veterans' health 
administration; and increase coverage of employees of veterans' canteen 
services under additional employment laws. I urge my Senate colleagues 
to act quickly on this important legislation.
  As a veteran myself, it saddens me to see how some of our nation's 
finest citizens are being treated. I believe our government should come 
clean, provide the information and provide medical treatment and 
compensation for the losses our military personnel suffered. We must 
address this tragedy and work to make sure nothing like this ever 
happens again.

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