Health Care for Exposure to Military Environmental Hazards
May-22-2010 Moving legislation forward that would potentially aid veterans suffering from toxic contamination.
Senate bill (S3378) authorizes health care for individuals exposed to environmental hazards at Camp Lejeune and the Atsugi Naval Air Facility and establishes an advisory board to examine exposures to environmental hazards during military service. Part I: Camp Lejeune and Atsugi Naval Air Facility
This story is not about a few rusting drums of chemicals sitting in an open field. The sad truth is that the widespread use of chemicals needed to support the military mission (e.g., jet fuels and degreasers like TCE), unsafe disposal practices, and failure to use personal protective clothing and equipment have lead to environmental contamination and unnecessary human suffering.
This article is Part I of a two part series addressing an original bill sponsored by Senator Daniel Akaka, (D, HI), Chairman, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, posted on the Senate Legislative Calendar last week as S.3378, “Examination of Exposures to Environmental Hazards During Military Service and Health Care for Camp Lejeune and Atsugi Naval Air Facility Veterans and Families Act of 2010.” Part II of this series will address the impact of S.3378 on other military bases, including the establishment of an Advisory Board on Military Exposures to “consider and study” current military personnel, veterans and their family’s exposure to potential environmental hazards at bases other than Lejeune and Atsugi.
The original bill was introduced by Senator Akaka, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, on January 28th. The Committee voted 9 to 5 along party lines in favor of the bill. DOD as Health Care Provider in S.3378 The Defense Department is the final decision maker on who receives health care benefits under S.3378. Continued
Highlighted section to make the point that happens on many of these congressional bills and the interesting facts on the political party that does the nay voting verses their rhetoric as to defense, the military, the veterans and especially the VA.
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