July 13, 2004

Contact: Harry Williams, Coalition for a Healthy Environment, Oak Ridge, 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

Oak Ridge, TN. The Alliance of Nuclear Worker Advocacy Groups (ANWAG) calls upon the House of Representatives Armed Services Conferees to retain an amendment to the Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (Sections 3151-3155 of the Senate Defense Authorization Act). This would honor a Congressional commitment made 4 years ago to the workers.

The amendment, passed on June 16 by a unanimous vote in the United States Senate, contains reforms correcting many of the problems with the Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) on 2000.

"This amendment is so important for the more than 24,000 sick workers who have waited more than 4 years to see whether the Department of Energy (DOE) could handle its part of the law. ANWAG thanks the Senate for exposing DOE’s flawed program and developing legislation that corrects EEOICPA's shortcomings," said Terrie Barrie.

“DOE’s ineptitude and inability to administer this program with any accuracy makes a mockery of the $95,000,000 already spent and only 10 people have been assisted in obtaining their state Worker Compensation claims,” said Janet Michel of CHE.

One remedy of the amendment is that claimants with a valid positive decision from the panel of physicians will have someone to pay the claim. As the law now stands, these claims would have had to fight in an adversarial state workers compensation forum. Sections 3151-3155 correct this by designating DOL as the payer for valid claims.

Also, Subtitle of the EEOICPA would be transferred from DOE to the Department of Labor (DOL).

The Bush Administration has issued a Statement of Administration Policy, dated May 19, 2004, stating that it is against any amendment that would expand the costs and scope of the EEOICPA or delay claims processing by shifting responsibilities for Subtitle D from Department of Energy (DOE) to Department of Labor (DOL).

“That's plain ludicrous" says Harry Williams. “DOL has an excellent track record for processing claims under Subtitle B of EEOICPA, as well as being responsible for four additional compensation programs. I have every confidence that DOL can do the job and quite well."

It would be a grave injustice to the sick workers and their families if Congress were to allocate additional funding to DOE and allow the current program to continue as is. The Senate’s solution is the right one. The DOL is ready and able to accept transfer of Subtitle D.

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