Weekly Update
Weekly Update
Recognizing World AIDS Day
Last Friday, December 1, was World AIDS Day. With about 40 million people living with HIV worldwide, we must act now to redouble our efforts to confront this devastating disease. Especially alarming is a recent report that in little more than two decades, AIDS is projected to become one of the top three causes of death worldwide. We clearly cannot wait any longer and although we still have no cure, treatment, education, and prevention programs can reverse the spread of AIDS, limit the number of new cases, and reduce the disease's impact on those who are infected. On World AIDS Day, and everyday, we should continue fighting to provide the research, support services, and public education needed to address the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States and its disproportionate effect on racial minorities. We must also come together across international boundaries to make sure all people worldwide have access to both affordable testing and antiretroviral treatment.
In Congress, I'm committed to supporting and expanding strong domestic HIV/AIDS programs while also confronting the magnitude of this disease as a global crisis. The Ryan White Care Act needs to be reauthorized and updated and I will keep working to fully fund the AIDS Drug Assistance Program to eliminate waiting lists and ensure that those living with this disease get the life-saving medications they need. For more on world AIDS Day, visit http://www.worldaidsday.org.
Demanding Fair Compensation for Sick Hanford Workers
I want to ensure that thousands of workers who may have become sick due to their service to our nation at Hanford have the opportunity to access compensation for their illnesses. The Department of Energy recognizes that providing workers with medical monitoring and accurate records on worker radiation exposure has been challenging. Consequently, many workers who have experienced significant radiation exposures are finding it nearly impossible to receive the compensation they need to cover their medical costs.
Recently, these workers got together to petition the federal government to give them Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) statusa special designation reserved for nuclear workers who were likely exposed to radiation but cannot prove it due to flawed and incomplete worker records. I've long called on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to give a thorough and fair review to the issue of SEC status for these workers. SEC status would remove an otherwise insurmountable burden of proof placed on sick workers and their families, and would help get them the care they are owed. Our federal government owes former Hanford workers a full and fair review of this petition for compensation, and I'll continue working with former Hanford employees and NIOSH to make sure Hanford workers receive the compensation they deserve. Too many of these workers have waited years for help. They don't need any more delays.
A Capitol Christmas Tree from the Evergreen State
I'm proud that this year's Capitol Christmas Tree, which will be lit in Washington D.C. this week, comes from the forests of Washington state. The 65-foot tall Pacific Silver Fir will be decorated with 10,000 lights and 3,000 ornaments handmade by schoolchildren from across our state. The tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree goes all the way back to 1964, but this year marks the first time the tree has come from Washington. It was cut from the Olympic National Forest in November, and then toured the state before it began its journey east to our nation's capital. Starting this Wednesday, the tree will be lit every evening through New Year's Day. During a season highlighted by giving and sharing gifts with friends and family, it's a special honor for the Evergreen State to present this beautiful tree to our nation's capital.
http://cantwell.senate.gov/news/weekly_update.cfm