PRESS RELEASE

ANWAG Finds Senators Bunning’s Proposal to Fix EEOICPA Lacking

For Immediate Release: May 13, 2004

Contact: Harry Williams, Coalition for a Healthy Environment, Knoxville,

TN 865-693-7249,

Denise Brock, United Nuclear Weapons Workers, St. Louis,

MO 636-366-4428,

Terrie Barrie, Grassroots Organization of Sick Workers,

Craig, CO 970-824-2260

Knoxville, TN - The Alliance for Nuclear Workers Advocacy Groups (ANWAG) finds Senator Bunning’s draft proposal to fix the Energy Employees Occupation Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 lacking. Moving part of the program to the Department of Labor is a much-needed step in the right direction, but it fails by not addressing the major flaw in the EEOICPA, Subtitle D and by introducing a completely unacceptable cut-off date for eligibility.

Senator Bunning proposal includes a cut-off date of February 1, 1992 for exposed workers to be eligible for compensation. Terrie Barrie of GOSW said, “Whatever the reasons, This is unacceptable to the workers who have been exposed and harmed since that date. Workers are continuing to be harmed today. Last year there were workers from Rocky Flats who were contaminated. If those workers became ill 10 years from now, there is no guarantee that they will receive medical assistance.”

Janet Michel of CHE added, “’Cherry picking’ additional toxins to be included in a Special Exposure Cohort is not the way to fix this failed program. Asking workers to pinpoint their exact workplace is also entirely too burdensome also. Most workers were in several areas and often, as in Oak Ridge, at more than one site. Workers should be given the benefit of the doubt. They worked at the most hazardous facilities in the world and were exposed to dozens, if not hundreds of toxic materials.”

Denise Brock of UNWW said “ANWAG supports a uniform program of compensation with annual cost-of-living adjustments, a choice of wage replacement or lump sum, and no offsets with social security, attorneys’ fees, or any other compensation.”