Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 4,000 veterans who participated in the nuclear cleanup of Enewetak Atoll, the site of 43 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands. The servicemembers who participated in its nuclear cleanup between 1977 and 1980 suffer from high rates of cancers due to their exposure to radiation and nuclear waste.

That is why, on February 26th, I introduced the ``Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act''. This bill would permit veterans who participated in the nuclear cleanup of Enewetak Atoll to be treated as ``radiation-exposed veterans.'' This change in law will allow servicemembers who performed the largest nuclear cleanup ever undertaken to receive the medical care they now need for service- connected cancers and diseases. Current law only covers servicemembers who participated in active nuclear tests, not those who participated in the cleanup.

These veterans served our nation with honor and distinction, but are currently unable to receive the same treatments and service-related disability presumptions that other ``radiation-exposed veterans'' receive.

Madam Speaker, of the 4,000 veterans who risked their lives on the radiological cleanup of Enewetak Atoll, only about ten percent are alive today. These survivors, who are now in their late 50s and 60s, have cancer and are fighting for their lives.

This legislation is named after the late Rep. Mark Takai--a veteran of the U.S. Army and Hawaii Army National Guard who passed away in 2016--and who originally introduced the bill in the 114th Congress.

Madam Speaker, my hope is that Congress will finally right this wrong, and help the men and women who sacrificed their youth and health in service of this great nation.

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