NEWS FROM OREGON DEMOCRATIC ELECTED OFFICALS
Blumenauer Statement on VA Response to National Guard Exposure in Iraq
July 29, 2010
Today it was announced that members of the Oregon National Guard who were exposed to hexavalent chromium while serving in Iraq will be assisted through the new Qarmat Ali Medical Surveillance Program. This program will be a subset of the existing Gulf War Registry for injured veterans, which began following the first Gulf War.
The announcement comes on the heels of a letter Congressman Blumenauer sent to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, requesting the classified terms of KBR’s contract with the Army that may have transferred KBR liability to the federal government and taxpayers.
“It is critical that we care for every veteran wounded in Iraq, and I am glad the VA is taking action to monitor, test, and treat the members of the Oregon National Guard who suffered chemical exposure,” said Blumenauer. “We must also address the bigger issue of preventing this sort of catastrophe from ever happening again. Negligently exposing people to toxic chemicals will not be tolerated, and whoever is responsible must be held fully accountable.”
The VA will be contacting the veterans by letter and phone call to enroll those exposed into the program. They will provide the following services:
* Provide ear, nose, throat exam
* Provide lung exam
* Take chest x-ray (which they will continue to do every 5 years)
* Skin exam
