William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry: “I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern). Mr. McGOVERN. I thank…”

“I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern). Mr. McGOVERN. I thank the chairman for his graciousness. Mr. Chair, I rise in favor of the McGovern-Pompeo amendment, which is part of this en bloc, to create a medal honoring the service of atomic veterans or their surviving family members. Between 1945 and 1962, over 200,000 servicemembers conducted hundreds of nuclear weapons tests and were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. Sworn to secrecy, they couldn't even tell their doctors. Presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush recognized their service by providing specialized care and compensation, but this isn't enough. Joe Mondello, a constituent of mine from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, and other atomic veterans helped bring this issue to my attention. It is long past time to honor their service. Last year, with the help of the chairman, in the DOD authorization bill we included this amendment, but then the Department of Defense insisted the Senate remove it. Their explanation? We don't have a medal and don't want to create one. Congress should find another way to honor these veterans. That is no excuse. In fact, that is insensitive, it is dismissive, and it is ungrateful. We should be appalled. Tragically, many of these atomic veterans have already died without receiving recognition. They kept a code of silence that likely led to many of them passing away too soon. We must right this wrong.…”