[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        EEOICPA OMBUDSMAN ENHANCEMENT AND EXTENSION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to 
introduce the EEOICPA Ombudsman Enhancement and Extension Act of 2007. 
I am also pleased to be joined in doing so by Representatives Udall of 
Colorado, Slaughter, Wamp, Whitfield, and Hastings.
  This important legislation is needed to extend the authorization of 
the EEOICPA Ombudsman, which is set to expire on October 28th of this 
year. The office of the EEOICPA Ombudsman was created in 2004 to help 
individuals making claims under Part E of the program navigate the 
complex and cumbersome claims process. The EEOICPA Ombudsman has proven 
to be an effective ally for these Cold War heroes who have contracted 
serious illnesses as a result of their work for the United States 
Government.
  Since the implementation of EEOICPA, it has become tragically 
apparent that the program is not working as intended. Claimants face 
overwhelming obstacles on their road to compensation. From a complex 
bureaucracy, to a highly technical burden of proof, to intimidating 
health physics discussions--all the while dealing with the physical and 
emotional strains of their illnesses--obtaining compensation for many 
claimants has proven to be a particularly difficult process.
  With that in mind, Congress created the Office of the EEOICPA 
Ombudsman, an independent office tasked with providing information to 
claimants and advising the Department of Labor concerning additional 
Resource Centers. However, due to objections from the Administration, 
language originally included in the FY05 Senate Defense Authorization 
that provided broader authority for the office was scaled back in favor 
of the language that ultimately became law. As a result, the Ombudsman 
was not only scheduled for sunset, but was also prohibited from serving 
as an advocate for claimants. It was instead restricted to a role in 
which its powers are limited to making inquiries on behalf of 
claimants. There is no question the Ombudsman has proven to be 
extremely valuable even in its limited capacity, but with broader 
authority, the Ombudsman will be that much more effective as an 
advocate, helping claimants receive the compensation they deserve, 
which, after all, is the intention of the EEOICPA program in the first 
place.
  Today, my colleagues and I seek to provide broader authority for the 
EEOICPA Ombudsman by introducing this legislation. This bill extends 
the life of the EEOICPA Ombudsman indefinitely, expands its authority 
from Part E of the program to Part B, and provides contracting 
authority for services necessary to fulfill their duties. Also, this 
legislation expands the powers of the EEOICPA Ombudsman to act as an 
advocate for the claimants when the Ombudsman determines it is 
appropriate. One other expansion of power in this legislation is to 
give the Office of the Ombudsman the authority to provide 
recommendations to Congress about legislative changes needed to make 
EEOICPA work more effectively. These are all expansions that are 
greatly needed to help the Ombudsman build on its already valuable 
role, which, in turn, helps EEOICPA claimants obtain their 
compensation.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in support of this legislation and 
help improve and expand efforts to provide some measure of justice to 
our Cold War heroes.

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