[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 48 (Thursday, March 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E722-E723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORT OF A BILL TO AMEND THE RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT TO 
   INCLUDE THE TERRITORY OF GUAM IN THE LIST OF AFFECTED AREAS WITH 
RESPECT TO WHICH CLAIMS RELATING TO ATMOSPHERE NUCLEAR TESTING SHALL BE 
                                ALLOWED

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 19, 2009

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have reintroduced a bill that 
would amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, RECA, to include 
Guam in the list of affected areas for claims regarding and relating to 
atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. My bill addresses a serious 
concern about the downwind affects of such testing that was conducted 
by the United States Government in the Marshall Islands from 1946 
through 1962. This is an issue that concerns many of my constituents, 
and the bill I have reintroduced today would provide an avenue for 
redress and compensation for any illnesses that may have been 
contracted by individuals who resided on Guam during the testing 
period.
  On April 27, 2005, a special committee of the Board of Radiation 
Effects Research of the National Research Council of the National 
Academies submitted a report to Congress entitled the ``Assessment of 
the Scientific Information for the Radiation Exposure Screening and 
Education Program.'' The report, which was the result of a 
Congressional directive, stated, ``As a result of its analysis, the 
committee concludes that Guam did receive measurable fallout from 
atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific. Residents of 
Guam during that period should be eligible for compensation under RECA 
in a way similar to that of persons considered to be downwinders.'' 
This is a critical finding.
  The bill I have reintroduced today directly acts on this finding and 
would provide a process by which such residents of Guam who may have 
been affected by radiation fallout from the Pacific tests can file 
compensable claims under RECA with the Department of Justice. The bill 
conforms to the current process under RECA that is utilized for 
residents of certain counties in the Western United States mainland 
that were similarly affected and downwind of other atmospheric nuclear 
weapons testing conducted by the United States Government.
  In reintroducing this legislation today I recognize the Pacific 
Association for Radiation Survivors, PARS, for their work and 
dedication to addressing this issue. Their support and continued 
efforts in raising public awareness about the legacy of United States 
testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific is making a difference in our 
community and provides an informed basis from which we should take up 
our work in Congress to amend RECA.
  I look forward to working with the Committee on the Judiciary in 
reviewing this legislation and the findings of the Committee to Assess 
the Scientific Information for the Radiation Exposure Screening and 
Education Program. I also look forward to this bill becoming law so 
that justice may be brought to those individuals who were adversely 
affected by the

[[Page E723]]

atmospheric nuclear tests that were conducted by the United States 
Government in the Pacific.

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