SENATORS ALLARD, SALAZAR OFFER AMENDMENT TO BENEFIT ROCKY FLATS WORKERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) and Ken Salazar (D-Colorado) on Friday introduced an amendment to the FY 2006 Defense Appropriations bill that will provide $15 million in benefits for Rocky Flats workers who would not have qualified for benefits because of the early completion of the cleanup at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS).

“These workers went the extra mile, and worked themselves out of a job by completing the Rocky Flats cleanup a year ahead of schedule. Providing them with the retirement benefits they would have received had the Rocky Flats project continued to December 2006 is an appropriate reward for saving the American people over $500 million in cleanup costs,” Senator Allard said.

“Doing something right and doing it well deserves a reward, not a demerit. The Rocky Flats workers have done just that, completing their job ahead of schedule and superbly,” said Senator Salazar said. “This benefit will help ensure that they are rewarded for that high-quality work and commitment.”

In April, the U.S. Department of Energy released a report prepared at the behest of Senator Allard on the “Maintenance of Retirement Benefits for Certain Workers” at Rocky Flats and other nuclear weapons cleanup sites.

Last year, Senator Allard was successful in getting the report required in the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005, in order to get a clearer picture of the pension, medical and other financial benefits that would be due to these workers who might be affected by an early closure of the Rocky Flats site. The report discusses remedies for workers at RFETS who will not receive retirement benefits because of the site’s early closure.

The report states: “Depending on which quarter Rocky Flats closes prior to the contract target date, the lump sum estimated value of unearned/unaccrued medical, life insurance and pension benefits would be between $2.1 million and $10.5 million. Up to 25 employees at Rocky Flats would be affected for pension benefits and up to 29 employees would be affected for health and life insurance plan coverage.”

“Rocky Flats workers have set the bar high for hard work and effectiveness. They are a national symbol for other workers around the country and this legislation to reward them for their efforts sets a tone that should be heard around the country,” added Senator Salazar.

“Not only do our Rocky Flats workers deserve fair treatment, but this appropriation would be a strong inducement for workers at other such sites to accelerate their cleanup activities,” Senator Allard said.