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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Pierluisi deeply disappointed by the 1st Circuit decision dismissing, on procedural grounds, the lawsuit brought by residents of Vieques


Washington, DC- I am deeply disappointed by the 1st Circuit decision dismissing, on procedural grounds, the lawsuit brought by residents of Vieques. I think that the legal analysis in Judge Torruella's dissent, which would have allowed the lawsuit to proceed, is far more convincing.

It is important to note that, in reaching its decision, the court took no position on whether the Navy's operations on Vieques have had adverse health effects on the island's residents. Indeed, the court said that the plaintiffs' claims, taken as true, "raise serious health concerns." The court stated explicitly that "these issues should be brought to the attention of Congress" and instructed the clerk of the court to provide a copy of the opinion to congressional leadership.

This decision underscores the necessity and value of a congressional oversight hearing on health and other issues facing the people of Vieques, which I formally requested in November and expect to be held in the coming months. This hearing would be the first time since the closure of the Navy’s training range that a congressional committee has held an oversight hearing on Vieques. In addition to this hearing, Congressman Rothman and I introduced the Vieques Recovery and Development Act of 2011, which would compensate Vieques residents for the adverse health impacts they have experienced as a result of decades of military training activities and provide funding for a hospital and toxins research center on the island. After I briefed the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Caucus formally endorsed the bill.

I will continue working, as I have been doing since I arrived in Congress, to bring justice to the people of Vieques.