13-R331

2013 -- H 6225

Enacted 06/11/13

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

of the Rhode Island Congressional delegation.

=======

LC02780

=======