VETERANS ISSUES

[Roy Wilson]

Congressman Denny Rehberg, 516 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

N E W S

November 8, 2005

Chemical and Biological Testing on American Veterans:

Reps. Rehberg and Thompson Call for Independent Investigation WASHINGTON, DC - At a Capitol Hill news conference, Montana�s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), and California Congressman Mike Thompson (D) today called for an independent investigation of chemical and biological weapons testing conducted on American service members. Rehberg and Thompson today introduced the �Veterans Right to Know Act,� creating a commission to investigate chemical and biological warfare testing carried out in the 60�s and 70�s.

�This is about openness, honesty and forthrightness in government; above all, it's about doing the right thing and uncovering the truth. Truth is what these brave veterans have asked for and truth is what they deserve,� Rehberg said.

�Throughout the 60�s and 70�s our government exposed thousands of servicemen and women to harmful chemical and biological agents. Today, these veterans have the right to know what they were exposed to so that they can receive the healthcare they need and deserve,� Thompson said. �This legislation will establish an independent investigation to uncover which tests took place, what agents were used and which veterans were exposed.�

Between 1962 and 1974, the Department of Defense (DoD) conducted a number of weapons tests on unknowing military personnel, using chemical and biological agents, such as Vx nerve gas, Sarin Nerve Gas and E. Coli. A Government Accountability Office report (GAO-04-410) issued in May of 2004 concluded that a substantial number of veterans remain unaware that tests were conducted on them.

The �Veterans Right to Know Act,� would create a 10-member, bipartisan Commission (modeled after the 911 Commission) to investigate chemical or biological warfare tests carried out under Project 112/SHAD. The commission would be required to report to Congress and the President 36 months after it is established. The commission would work with the Veterans� Administration to inform those who were exposed to testing. If veterans have symptoms associated with the tests they would be eligible for proper medical treatment and any potential service related disability compensation.

The bill has been endorsed by, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Military Officers Association of America, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Blinded Veterans of America.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mt00_rehberg/110805_Shad.html

[Roy Wilson]

Highlights of GAO-04-410, a report to Senate and House Committees on Armed Services

In the 1962-74 time period, the Department of Defense (DOD) conducted a classified chemical and biological warfare test program—Project 112—that might have exposed service members and civilian personnel to chemical or biological agents. In 2000 the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began obtaining information from DOD about the program.

Concerned that veterans and others might have health problems from exposure during Project 112 and similar DOD tests, Congress required DOD in the 2003 Defense Authorization Act to identify Project 112 tests and personnel potentially exposed—service members and the number of civilian personnel—and other chemical and biological tests that might have exposed service members. GAO was required by the act and subsequent guidance from the congressional requesters to evaluate

(1) DOD’s process to identify the Project 112 tests and the service members and the number of civilian personnel potentially exposed, (2) DOD’s progress in identifying similar tests outside Project 112, and (3) VA’s progress in notifying DOD-identified veterans.

GAO is making three recommendations to enhance DOD’s responsiveness to the
legislative requirement. DOD concurred with all of our recommendations and agreed to implement them.

www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-410.

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE

DOD Needs to Continue to Collect and
Provide Information on Tests and
Potentially Exposed Personnel

DOD appears to have accurately identified all major chemical and biological tests associated with Project 112. DOD identified 134 planned tests of which 50 were conducted. Of the 50 tests, 19 were ship-based and 31 were land-based.

GAO found no evidence of any other Project 112 tests. DOD performed a reasonable investigation of service members potentially exposed to agents in the tests. However, GAO believes that there likely are service members and civilian personnel potentially exposed to agents who have not been identified for various reasons. First, DOD was unable to identify any service members for 21 land-based tests because it was unable to find the needed records. Second, although DOD addressed the basic
mandate requirement regarding civilian personnel by estimating that 350 had been potentially exposed, it did not specifically search for individual civilian personnel exposures or foreign national exposures. DOD limited its investigation of specific exposures to identifying military veterans who might be eligible for medical services from VA. Third, DOD did not pursue all possible sources of information during its investigation, and additional identifications continue. DOD recently identified 51, and VA, 172 more military personnel. GAO identified 167 additional service members and civilian personnel who might have been exposed, plus additional sources of information. DOD has not determined the feasibility of continuing its efforts to identify additional potentially exposed service members or civilian personnel.

In February 2004, following GAO inquiries, another DOD office began preparing a plan to identify tests outside Project 112 that might have exposed service members. Since World War II, DOD has conducted hundreds of classified tests within the 48 contiguous states. Although not required by the act, DOD also plans to identify service members and civilian personnel who were potentially exposed by these tests. However, that office has not yet completed its plan for doing this.

As of March 2004, VA had notified 3,397, or 58 percent, of the 5,842 service members DOD reported in June 2003, including 751 VA determined to be deceased. VA is still processing over 2,400 cases but is having difficulty making these notifications due to the absence of key needed information such as military service numbers. VA is developing a plan to resolve these more difficult cases and expects to complete its notification process by September 1, 2005. To date, VA has granted 10 of 316 benefit claims related to Project 112. Recent changes to VA’s eligibility requirements could increase the number of Project 112-related medical visits.

DOD has not designated an office to act as a single point of contact for collecting and providing information regarding the results of its investigations of DOD chemical and biological tests conducted inside or outside of Project 112.