[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7801]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 7801]]


                              {time}  2100

  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S OBFUSCATION OF ISSUES SURROUNDING GULF WAR 
                               ILLNESSES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Wamp). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Metcalf) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, the GAO recently presented me with results 
of a year-long investigation regarding reports that the presence of 
antibodies for squalene had been discovered in the blood samples of 6 
Gulf War veterans. I am deeply troubled over the Department of Defense 
reply to the GAO recommendation. The GAO simply stated that since 
scientifically-credible research produced these findings, it would 
behoove the Department of Defense to conduct their own test to 
replicate or to dispute the results. We owe this to our veterans.
  The DOD response to the report has been unconscionable. In the 
department's official letter of comment Dr. Sue Bailey accused the GAO 
of being, and I quote, scientifically and fiscally irresponsible. That 
is a reprehensible statement, and I can not allow that accusation to go 
unchallenged.
  The recommendation reflects the scientific community's conclusion 
that the squalene antibody research is based on well-established 
principles. The lead researcher at Tulane University is widely 
respected. Tulane and the researchers have offered their assistance to 
DOD. Considering this, the Department of Defense cannot accuse the GAO 
of scientific irresponsibility.
  What is irresponsible is for the DOD to conclude that it can afford 
to wait for the lengthy publication process before conducting its own 
inquiry. Over 100,000 Gulf War era veterans are now afflicted with a 
tragic assortment of health problems. We have a moral obligation to 
aggressively pursue any legitimate research that may provide hope and 
answers.
  Further, the DOD challenged the GAO's recommendation on fiscal 
grounds. I find this stunning. Over $100 million have been spent 
researching Gulf War illnesses with little to show for the effort. DOD 
officials admitted to the GAO that they could develop such an assay at 
minimum cost and test it on a sample of sick veterans. This first step 
could be funded for as little as $10,000.
  GAO's investigation was hindered repeatedly by DOD's refusal to 
provide forthright and truthful answers to investigators. They misled 
the GAO regarding when they began the research of the experimental 
squalene adjuvant, how many studies they did and how many personnel 
were involved. While assuring the GAO that investigational vaccine were 
not used, DOD officials were not able to provide documentation on the 
process and results of the decision-making related to the 
administration of vaccines during the Gulf War.
  These actions mirror the continual difficulty that has been 
encountered in trying to get the truth regarding risk factors during 
the Gulf War. There has been a pattern, a consistent pattern, of 
denials. For example, DOD initially refused to even acknowledge that 
many vets were having serious health problems.
  With this kind of track record and a tragic past history of 
experimental medical research, the DOD cannot expect us to simply 
accept their denials and refusals. Our ability to recruit and retain 
has been compromised by the department's obfuscation on many issues 
surrounding the Gulf War illnesses. They must act immediately and with 
integrity to resolve whether or not squalene antibodies may be 
contributing to the illnesses of Gulf War era veterans. It would go a 
long way in helping the DOD to restore its seriously damaged 
credibility and restoring the trust of our men and women in uniform.

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