[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 18, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H1731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      THE COURAGE OF LARRY DARCEY

  (Mr. KENNEDY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, at the very beginning of my first term, I 
came across an article in a local newspaper about a constituent of mine 
named Larry Darcey.
  Years after being exposed to nuclear components while working in a 
plant supporting the U.S. Navy in Attleboro, Massachusetts, Mr. Darcey 
was diagnosed with cancer in 1992. Facing the fear and uncertainty of 
his first cancer diagnosis, Mr. Darcey quickly found out that he was 
far from the only former employee at the plant with cancer. But he also 
learned that few of those employees were aware of the Federal 
compensation and medical payments that they deserved.
  Over the past few years, he has helped over 200 of his former 
coworkers file compensation claims. His work and the tireless coverage 
of Rick Foster and the Attleboro Sun Chronicle have kept attention on 
this critical issue.
  Guided by their efforts, I have worked with the Department of Labor 
and the Social Security Administration to provide former workers and 
their families with over $34 million--more than twice as much as had 
been paid out in the 13 years of the compensation program's existence. 
To many families, Mr. Speaker, that support has changed or even saved 
lives, and it is all thanks to Larry Darcey for raising his voice when 
he saw a gap in our system.
  Thank you, Larry, for all you have done and all you do.

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