George Voinovich: “over the last half century, and at facilities all across America, tens of thousands of dedicated men and women in our…”

“over the last half century, and at facilities all across America, tens of thousands of dedicated men and women in our civilian federal workforce helped keep our military fully supplied and our nation fully prepared to meet any potential threat. Their success is measured in part with the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, for many of these workers, their success came at a high price; the sacrifice of their health, and even their lives, for our liberty. I believe we have a federal obligation to live up to our responsibilities with these Cold War veterans. The bill I am introducing today, along with Senators Reid, DeWine, Kennedy, McConnell, Bryan, Harkin, Thompson, Frist, and Bunning is titled the ``Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act of 2000.'' This bill will provide financial compensation to Department of Energy workers whose impaired health has been caused by exposure to beryllium, radiation or other hazardous substances while working for the defense of the United States. The bill will also provide compensation to survivors of workers who have died while suffering from an illness resulting from exposure to these substances.”