[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11726-S11727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HOLD ON THE NOMINATION OF LEON R. SEQUEIRA

  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise to share my serious concern about 
the implementation of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness 
Compensation Program Act, EEOICPA. Because of the gravity of my 
concerns, I have placed a hold on a nomination currently pending before 
this body--the nomination of Leon R. Sequeira to be Assistant Secretary 
for Policy at the Department of Labor.
  I harbor no ill will toward Mr. Sequeira. But I am furious with the 
foot-dragging, the obstruction, and the neglect that have characterized 
the administration's approach toward American citizens who took real 
risks for our country during the cold war, who are suffering now, and 
who need and deserve help.
  It is my understanding that Mr. Sequeira's role will be to advise the 
Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao on policy development and 
program implementation. It is my hope that I can work through my 
numerous concerns with the Department of Labor and the Department of 
Health and Human Services.
  The EEOICPA Program is supposed to compensate the thousands of cold 
war veterans who worked for our country's nuclear weapons programs. 
Together, these Federal agencies are responsible for administering the 
EEOICPA Program. Both agencies also play significant roles in the 
special exposure cohort SEC petition process.
  As Congressman John Hostettler pointed out earlier this week, the SEC 
petition process was designed to provide a mechanism for workers to be 
given relief from government that ``frequently misled them about the 
hazards they were facing and failed to properly monitor their 
exposure.'' Among the workers who face just such a situation were the 
Americans who worked at Rocky Flats in my State of Colorado.
  Many of these individuals, who knowingly risked their own safety to 
protect our democracy, have suffered from painful and debilitating 
diseases, including cancer, and many have died as a result of their 
brave service. Like Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, I would 
hope that their Government could provide some measure of justice to 
these patriots. She has stated that, ``My concern is that we take care 
of men and women who were harmed as a result of loyal service to their 
country. It is my hope that this program will repay them in some small 
way for all they've lost.''
  Unfortunately, this program is repaying them with bureaucratic delays 
and a deck stacked against them. I believe our Government is failing to 
fulfill the promise and intent of the EEOICPA Program.
  In Colorado, many people who worked at Rocky Flats were exposed to 
beryllium, radiation, and other hazards that have led to cancer and 
death. They filed a special exposure cohort petition over 17 months ago 
to receive compensation. Their petition has been delayed and obstructed 
at various levels and by several agencies. We have

[[Page S11727]]

been waiting for the administration to take action to ensure that the 
composition of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health is 
adjusted so that it will more fairly examine workers' claims, but the 
administration has failed to act. Sadly, I fear that, to a great 
extent, these actions are the result of conscious decisions by certain 
agency officials.
  Since the Department of Labor's mission is to foster and promote the 
welfare of American workers, I hoped to work with the Department to 
ensure that the quiet heroes of the Rocky Flats petition were 
compensated. However, I have struggled to find common ground, and for 
some of these workers, time is running out. Moreover, hearings held by 
the House Judiciary Committee have left me with serious questions 
regarding their efforts to undermine the Rocky Flats and other SEC 
petitions in the name of cost containment and other shameful actions.
  I hope to discuss these questions with Mr. Sequeira and other 
administration officials and to get some firm commitments about 
cleaning up this process, moving forward fairly, and getting the Rocky 
Flats petition approved. Until then, I cannot in good faith allow this 
nomination to proceed.

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