Udall seeks hearing on Bush cuts

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., asked Friday for an official hearing into President Bush's budget cuts which would chop around $686 million from the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to Cold War workers suffering from radiation-related cancer, beryllium-related disease or chronic silicosis as a result of their work in nuclear weapons production or testing.

In October 2004, Congress amended EEOICPA to create Part E and mandated it's implementation by May 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Part E expanded the categories of workers eligible to receive federal compensation and medical benefits to Department of Energy contractors and subcontractors who sustained health impairment due to exposure to toxic substances.

The amendment also authorizes payment from the EEOICP Fund for benefits awarded by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

Udall's letter to Chairman John Hostettler and Ranking Member Sheila Jackson-Lee, who serve on the House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims, includes his formal request to sit in on the proceedings and participate in the questioning.

Udall is chairman and ranking member on the subcommittee that has jurisdiction over EEOICPA claims issues. In his letter to Hostettler and Jackson-Lee, Udall said he recently sent a letter to the Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Director of the Office of Management & Budget expressing his concern over the proposed $686 million reduction for Fiscal Year 2007.

"Concern about this reduction in benefits is compounded by recent reports of possible changes to the procedures for handling Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) petitions," Udall said.

"The confluence of the budget expectations and possible procedural changes gives rise to the question of whether decisions about changes made to SEC petitions are going to be based on budgetary considerations rather than the scientific criteria and processes for evaluation rooted in the underlying compensation law.

"If this in fact is the case, this would be a tragedy and further injustice to the men, women and families who have already suffered from radiation exposure," Udall said.

The EEOICPA Part B and Part E funding falls under the budget authority of the Employment Standards Administration. EEOICPA received $1,559.7 million in FY 2006. It is budgeted to receive $873.9 million in FY 2007, a reduction of $685.8 million.

"I cannot stand idly by and watch $600 million in funding being cut for people who worked on behalf of our nation during the Cold War," Udall said. "Many of my constituents have paid the ultimate price for being exposed to these materials and the U.S. government should owe them full compensation," he said.

The Department of Labor said the Employment Standards Administration budget request also includes a legislative proposal to restructure the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund debt now more than $9 billion to ensure the trust fund's long-term solvency

The Black Lung benefits program provides wage replacement and medical benefits to coal miners suffering from pneumoconiosis and cash benefits to eligible survivors.