Downwinders get more funding

Congress passes a variety of measures that will aid Utahns

WASHINGTON — The 108th Congress put finishing touches on its lame duck session in a rare Saturday session that lasted well into the evening. And before the gavel fell, lawmakers had rejected the development of certain nuclear weapons and passed an omnibus $388 billion appropriations act that will keep the federal government running for the next year — and fund several important Utah projects and programs of interest to Utahns.

Due in large part to the efforts of Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who sits on the appropriations committee, downwind victims of nuclear testing in the 1950s and 1960s will get $27.8 million to fund a shortfall in the compensation program.

"These funds mean Utah downwinders won't receive another IOU from the government this year," said Bennett. "I'm especially pleased that necessary funds for this important program be available this year. This is an obligation the government must meet."

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, principal sponsor of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, also was instrumental in getting the funding for downwinders.

"We've been fighting for this funding all year," Hatch said. No compensation act "claimant should receive an IOU because the program ran out of funds. I'll continue pressing for the government to give radiation exposure victims in Utah and across the West the compensation they deserve."

The Department of Justice, which oversees the downwinder compensation program, testified before Hatch's Judiciary Committee in August regarding the long-term financial solvency of the program. During that hearing, both Justice Department officials and the Government Accountability Office told Congress the trust fund will run out of money and claimants will be issued IOUs unless additional funding is found.

The new funding ensures the Radiation Exposure Compensation act will be financially solvent through 2007.

The increased funding also follows another provision already signed into law that allowed uranium miner, miller and transporter compensation act claims to be paid by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. By moving these workers to the energy employees program, more Radiation Exposure Compensation Act trust fund dollars are now available for claimants such as downwinders.

Utah has the second-largest number of compensation act claimants in the United States.

Also of interest to those living downwind of the Nevada Test Site was the final language of appropriations bills for research and development of nuclear weapons. The Energy and Water Appropriations bill dropped provisions that would fund the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator — a bunker-buster nuclear warhead — and new advanced concepts weapons designs.

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