Polis, Perlmutter Successfully Include Important Amendment for Rocky Flats Workers in National Defense Authorization Act

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02) and U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) applaud the inclusion of an important amendment in the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (NDAA). The bi-partisan amendment, also co-authored with Rep. Ed Whitfield (KY-01) and spearheaded in the Senate by Senator Mark Udall, will create an independent advisory board to increase transparency and ensure Cold War Patriots' benefits applications are reviewed accurately and expeditiously.

During the Cold War, approximately 600,000 workers were employed at more than 380 U.S. atomic weapons program facilities throughout the country. Many of these Cold War Patriots were unknowingly exposed to radioactive and toxic substances at work. As a direct result of their work for the U.S. government, some atomic weapons program workers have developed cancers and other diseases. Unfortunately, due to bureaucratic hurdles and delays, many Cold War Patriots still have not received the benefits they deserve to care for the illnesses they contracted as a result of their work. This includes the workers of Rocky Flats, a former nuclear trigger production facility located in Jefferson County, part of Rep. Perlmutter's 7th Congressional District.

"Too many men and women who dedicated years of their life serving their country during the Cold War have faced inexcusable delays in getting medical treatment and benefits," said Rep. Polis. "I am thrilled that the amendment I offered with Reps. Perlmutter and Whitfield to eliminate this uncertainty and improve transparency for our Cold War patriots was included in the final NDAA text. I will continue to fight tirelessly to ensure that this amendment becomes law so we can eliminate the red tape and bureaucracy that has frustrated these employees, and me, for too long."

"Not only do we owe our Cold War Patriots a great debt of gratitude for their service to our country, we have a duty to ensure these nuclear weapons workers are given the benefits they deserve to care for their work-related illnesses," said Rep. Perlmutter. "This advisory board is an important step in adding transparency and accountability to decisions made affecting workers' compensation and access to benefits."

In 2000, Congress acted to provide health care and benefits to these workers by passing the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). Unfortunately, implementation of EEOICPA was plagued by delays. The amendment would create an independent advisory board under Part E of the program providing compensation and medical benefits for workers exposed to toxic substances. The advisory board would review the Site Exposure Matrix and other methods currently used by Department of Labor claims examiners to determine causation of medical ailments. The advisory board was recently recommended by the Government Accountability Office and the Institute of Medicine.

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