STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1654

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.C.R. No. 189

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and International Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 189 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND COMPENSATION TO NUCLEAR VICTIMS IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to urge the federal government to properly fund medical care and compensation to nuclear victims who are residents of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In addition, the federal government is urged to finance and commission a comprehensive independent health study to determine the impact of sustained exposure to radiation.

The Straub Clinic and Hospital, the United Church of Christ, and five concerned individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.

Above ground tests of atomic and hydrogen bombs were conducted by the United States government in the Enewetak and Bikini regions of the Marshall Islands from 1946 through 1958. These tests resulted in environmental contamination and extensive exposure to radiation for citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and residents have suffered acute radiation sickness, thyroid and skin cancers, leukemia, birth defects, stillbirths, damage to their reproductive organs, and endocrine disorders. The overall impact and long-term effect of the bomb tests on the health of Marshall Island residents is still unknown.

Your Committee finds that the threat by the federal government to cut off funds for medical care and compensation for nuclear victims in the Marshall Islands on the grounds that there is no legal basis for payments is both irresponsible and immoral.

This concurrent resolution has been amended by your Committee to encourage the federal government to establish health centers in the Republic of the Marshall Islands to assure delivery of health care adequate to the needs of nuclear victims.

The following have been added by your Committee to those that would receive certified copies of this concurrent resolution: the Executive Director of the Aloha Medical Mission, the President of Micronesians United, the Director of Pacific Island and Asian American Ministry of the United Church of Christ, the Director of ERUB (Enewetak, Rongelap, Utrick, Bikini) Honolulu Marshallese Ministry, and the Director of the Friends Retreat Center.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 189, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 189, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and International Affairs,

 

____________________________

HELÉNE H. HALE, Chair

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DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair