Jim Webb

Today's hearing will explore the critical intersection of the environment, foreign policy, and security in Southeast Asia.

I was very gratified to see China beginning to move forward with some cooperation here.

What we can do--and have already accomplished to a surprising extent--is to use our expanded engagement with the region to 'keep China honest.'

China's dam cascade in Yunnan will have different impacts, as opposed to those of the Lower Mekong dams.

But, that money--let's get our facts straight here--that money, according to testimony, is principally being spent to examine the impact of climate change.

I would like to ask you a few questions here.

We will continue to see if we can't help raise the awareness of this issue.

It's a water sovereignty issue on--other than on a bilateral basis.

Is there an international forum in which downstream riparian water rights could be considered with sort of decisional authority?

The notion of the difficulty of upriver dams, which is a main purpose of this hearing, which affect riverflow downstream.

As I've said many times, the United States is a vital ingredient in maintaining regional balance.

I am, at the same time, kind of curious about how much is being invested in areas where we can get a more immediate improvement.

Also seem to be logical and understandable because of the functions that they performed.

So basically, what you are saying--what the point is so that I can understand it--let me say it and tell me if I am wrong, is that looking at the analytical data from these studies based on dioxin exposure or TCDD exposure, you can then…

I recall going through the original Ranch Hand Studies in great detail back in the late 1970s, looking at the mortality rates and the incidence, particularly the liver--conditions of the liver were prominent back then.

Was this actual new scientific studies or was this as a result of further evaluation of studies that had already been done?

Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a couple questions. First of all, thank all of you for the details that you provided in your written statements and the follow-on questions.

Those studies [examined] the relationship of dioxin and IHD mortality.

So we cannot say a Vietnam veteran is 1.4 to 2.8 more times likely to come down with ischemic heart disease than a non-veteran?

Well, Secretary Shinseki made a comment toward the end of his testimony; he had actually made a similar comment when I met with him.

I think the biggest problem that we face which has been referred to by many of the panelists is the fact that we really do not--frequently do not have good measures of what exposure was and continues to be in the affected people.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe Mr. Samet, did you have a follow-on to that? You had your hand up.

We must maintain the integrity of our compensation system, even given these unknowns.

In response to a question from Senator Webb with respect to the extent to which common risk factors for developing IHD may have attributed to the elevated risk observed in the studies reviewed by the IOM Update 2008...

There is nothing wrong with trying to make laws better.