Bill Text: IA HR108 | 2015-2016 | 86th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: A resolution recognizing July 16, 2016, as Iowa Atomic Veterans Day.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-06 - Resolution adopted. H.J. 598. [HR108 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2015-HR108-Introduced.html

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House Resolution 108 - Introduced

PAG LIN




                    HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.    
                             BY  GASSMAN
  1  1 A Resolution recognizing July 16, 2016, as Iowa Atomic
  1  2    Veterans Day.
  1  3    WHEREAS, as a result of the Manhattan Project, the
  1  4 United States conducted the Trinity nuclear test, the
  1  5 first detonation of a nuclear device, in New Mexico on
  1  6 July 16, 1945; and
  1  7    WHEREAS, over 200,000 American service members,
  1  8 including Iowans, participated in aboveground nuclear
  1  9 tests between 1945 and 1962, were part of the United
  1 10 States military occupation forces in Japan in or around
  1 11 Hiroshima and Nagasaki before 1946, or were held as a
  1 12 prisoner of war in or near Hiroshima or Nagasaki; and
  1 13    WHEREAS, Iowans have been exposed to radiation due
  1 14 to their work at the Ames Laboratory at Iowa State
  1 15 University as part of the Manhattan Project and at the
  1 16 Burlington Atomic Energy Commission Plant at the Iowa
  1 17 Army Ammunition Plant located in Des Moines County; and
  1 18    WHEREAS, these atomic veterans, both military and
  1 19 civilian,  may have been exposed to radiation as a
  1 20 result of their service and, due to that exposure, may
  1 21 have developed cancer or other medical conditions; and
  1 22    WHEREAS, many atomic military veterans were
  1 23 prevented by secrecy laws or oaths from seeking medical
  1 24 care or disability compensation from the United States
  1 25 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for conditions
  1 26 they may have developed as a result of radiation
  1 27 exposure; and
  1 28    WHEREAS, in 1996, the United States Congress
  2  1 repealed the Nuclear Radiation and Secrecy Agreements
  2  2 Act, freeing atomic military veterans to describe their
  2  3 military involvement in nuclear testing in order to
  2  4 file for VA benefits; and
  2  5    WHEREAS, atomic military veterans may be eligible
  2  6 for free medical care from the VA and compensation
  2  7 in the form of a partial or full service=connected
  2  8 disability allowance, including potential payments to
  2  9 a surviving spouse or children; and
  2 10    WHEREAS, the National Association of Atomic Veterans
  2 11 was formed in 1979 to help atomic military veterans
  2 12 obtain medical care and assistance; and
  2 13    WHEREAS, it is altogether fitting and proper that
  2 14 atomic veterans be recognized for their service and
  2 15 sacrifice to the nation; NOW THEREFORE,
  2 16    BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That
  2 17 the House of Representatives recognizes July 16, 2016,
  2 18 as Iowa Atomic Veterans Day.
       LSB 5609HH (1) 86
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