Political Quotes

“I want to take a moment to speak about two amendments this rule makes in order that I have offered which are focused on the health and environmental safety for those willing to put their lives on the line for our country--first, for former nuclear weapons workers, and, second, for our firefighters. My first amendment affirms Congress' commitment to the success of the Department of Labor's Office of the Ombudsman for former nuclear weapons workers. Over 600,000 Americans worked on our Nation's nuclear weapons in the 20th century, including at the former Rocky Flats Plant in my district, which produced the plutonium triggers for many of our nuclear weapons. Many of these workers were exposed to toxic substances and chemicals and, as a result, developed terrible and often terminal illnesses. Congress created the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, or EEOICPA for short, which is not very short, to provide compensation and healthcare to these workers under the fiscal year 2001 NDAA. Unfortunately, the illness compensation program has been troubled for years, preventing workers from successfully submitting their claims and assessing their hard-earned benefits. The Office of the Ombudsman serves as an important resource for claimants, helping them navigate the complicated claims process. Unfortunately, this office sunsets this October.…”