I strongly support the Administration's acknowledgement of previous denials and its current plan to provide more help for sick workers who may have contracted their illnesses through their dedicated service to our nation at DOE facilities in Oak Ridge and elsewhere across the country. I will work as hard as I can with a bipartisan group of members of Congress to help pass the legislation necessary to make this badly needed program happen.

For far too long, our nation refused to admit the mistakes made and the exposure of some workers in our nuclear arms complex, who sacrificed their good health in order to help us win World War II and the Cold War.

Like most citizens, I had no idea of the true dimensions of the government's lack of precautions in handling our nuclear production materials. It was only after I took office in 1995 that I began to receive briefings that showed me that in decades past, some VERY unwise things were done in handling and disposing of nuclear materials, dangerous chemicals and wastes at the Oak Ridge complex and elsewhere. Thankfully, things are not done that way today, but this great nation needs to admit to previous mistakes and provide compensation to veterans of the Cold War just as it does for veterans of hot wars. As these workers' representative in Congress, I applaud them for their outstanding service to our nation.