2013 -- H 6225

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LC02780

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY URGING THE PASSAGE OF H.R. 411 WITH RECOMMENDED

AMENDMENTS

     Introduced By: Representative Michael W. Chippendale

     Date Introduced: June 11, 2013

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, The United States Army's Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama, according

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to the Federal Government's Roster of Toxic Waste Sites, is located on one of the country's

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largest chemical waste and toxic substance "Superfund Sites"; and

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     WHEREAS, The 113th United States House of Representatives has introduced a bill, H.R.

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411, which will direct the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs to establish a registry of certain veterans

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who were stationed at Ft. McClellan, AL, as well as those who were there for other reasons; and

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     WHEREAS, The short title of this act is "The Fort McClellan Health Registry Act," and

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if enacted, it will require the information in the registry to contain all relevant data from all

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United States Servicemen who have experienced health issues with symptoms that match, or are

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similar to, those identified as being a result of exposure to toxic substances at Ft. McClellan; and

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     WHEREAS, The current bill names only "individuals who served in the Armed Forces"

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but should be amended to include "all National Guardsman, Reservists, and any other United

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States government employees, and the biological offspring of said individuals"; and

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     WHEREAS, The Fort McClellan Health Registry Act is intended to gather data and

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develop treatment for the myriad symptoms manifesting in the above described personnel. It will

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also engage in an outreach program to find any of the said personnel who were stationed at, or

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conducted other business at, Ft. McClellan between January 1st of 1935 and May 20th of 1999;

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and

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     WHEREAS, It has been determined that the following substances were found, and on

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numerous occasions used, at Ft. McClellan: Chemical Weapons, Degreasers and

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Decontamination Solvents, Environmental contaminants (such as Arsenic, Asbestos, Lead,

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Mercury, and Thallium), and Herbicides, Pesticides, and Ionizing Radiation; and

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     WHEREAS, The above referenced contaminants were also found in the surrounding

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areas in the Town of Anniston, AL, and the primary supplier of the carcinogenic chemicals has

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made a large monetary settlement with the Town of Anniston; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby respectfully urges the United States Senate and the United States

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House of Representatives, along with President Barack Obama, to pass into law H.R. 411, with

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the recommended amendments hereby named in this resolution; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to President Barack Obama, the Honorable

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Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of

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both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, and the members

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of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation.

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LC02780

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