We were delighted to make an appearance
today in a written statement in a legislative
hearing for various Bills.

While Congress at various stages has been
working behind the scenes with us for a
very long time, we are now entering the
phase of our issues on Fort McClellan
where we can make appearances on the
record.

Todays hearing is the first introduction
on the official congressional record
of the Fort McClellan issue and this is
done while in the presence of our medical
representatives, the national Institute
of Medicine who were aligned with the
veterans during the 2 year duration of
the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission
public hearings where we now hold official
standing in their history-making
report to Congress (Chapter 5).

The texts of the written statements
are still being loaded in preparation
for todays hearing, but should be
fully loaded on line by clicking on
my name at the bottom of the page
at the House LINK below.

Thanks to everyone who got us this
far and I hope this congressional
appearance now by our group will
confirm to everyone that official
Washington, including the VA Secretary's
Office, is talking to us on the
Fort McClellan / Monsanto contamination
zone issue.

Stay tuned here at Vets For Justice
for the up and coming announcements
on Fort McClellan claims statusing.
We are delighted to steer this issue
into it's final phases, and for a
successful victory for the medical
patients who are so very effected
by their service at Fort McClellan.
This is for them.


http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=249


Please note that a full one page
biography on me was submitted with
this statement, I cannot say if they
will post it with the rest of the
statement, but it was submitted
to include all of my military
assignments as is well documented
on my DA FORM 20 with all the other
veterans of the day including my
various duty assignments.



June 12, 2008 2:00PM


Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs


Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1197, H.R. 3008, H.R. 3795, H.R. 4274, H.R. 5155, H.R. 5448, H.R. 5454, H.R. 5709, H.R. 5954, H.R. 5985, and H.R. 6032340 Cannon House Office Building

Opening Statements

Hon. John J. Hall, Chairman, and a Representative in Congress from the State of New York

Witness Testimonies

Panel 1
The Honorable David Wu, a Representative in Congress from the State of Oregon

The Honorable Carol Shea-Porter, a Representative in Congress from the State of New Hampshire

The Honorable Thomas H. Allen, a Representative in Congress from the State of Maine

The Honorable Michael Thompson, a Representative in Congress from the State of California

The Honorable Denny R Rheberg, a Representative in Congress from the State of Montana

The Honorable James T. Walsh, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York


Panel 2

Judith A. Salerno, M.D., MS, Executive Director, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences

Sidath Viranga Panangala, Analyst in Veterans Policy, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress

Accompanied By:
Christine Scott, Specialist in Social Policy, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress

Douglas Weimer, Legislative Attorney, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress


Panel 3

Les Jackson, Executive Director, American Ex-Prisoners of War

Steve Smithson, Deputy Director, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, American Legion

John Rowan, National President, Vietnam Veterans of America

Lieutenant Commander Jack B. Alderson, USNR (Ret.), Fernandale, CA

Jeff Faull, McEwersille, PA (Disabled Veteran), on behalf of the ALS Association

David Woods, Director, Veterans Affairs of Scott County, Iowa


Panel 4

Bradley G. Mayes, Director, Compensation and Pension Services; Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Accompanied By:

Bradley B. Flohr, Assistant Director for Policy Compensation and Pension Services, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Richard Hipolit, Assistant General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs


Panel 5

Submissions for the Record

Sue Frasier, Albany, NY (Disabled Veteran), on
behalf of Fort McClellan Veterans Stakeholders Group

Kerry Baker, Associate National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans
Paralyzed Veterans of America

Commander Norman C. LaChapelle, MSC, USN (Ret.), Adminsitrator, Bureau of Environmentaln Health/Emergency Regional Response, Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, Tennesses
Allen Oats, United States Military Veterans with Parkinson’s disease


Let this be a confirmation to all
that official Washington is only talking
to this group right here on the Monsanto
matter and not to all of these other
psychotic fakers, liars, and wanna-be's
who are on the internet and trying to
impersonate us out of jealousy and
hate.

We are in good standing with all of
our Capitol Hill relations and will
continue to operate that way.
We have nothing but respect and admiration
for all of the former VDBC Commissioners
and the Institute of Medicine workers
who dared to defy the VA in our names.

_______________________________________


START OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS COVERAGE
OF THE INTERNAL HEARING ITSELF ON
JUNE 12TH. NOTICE HOW WE ALL CROSS
VERIFY EACH OTHER IN WHAT WE SAY
EITHER ON OR OFF THE RECORD OR TO
THE NEWS MEDIA. CONGRESS PAYS ATTENTION
TO THIS CROSS-VERIFICATION BETWEEN
OUR EXPOSURE GROUPS, SO THIS IS A
VERY GOOD THING WE ARE ALL DOING
HERE AND PLEASE APPLAUD IT FOR
THE HISTORY-IN-THE-MAKING FOR WHAT
IT IS. Thanks for your support
everybody, it has been a pleasure
to carry this football as far as
we have, now let's see if we can
bring it in for a Touchdown.


//////////////////////////////////////

Jun 12, 7:08 PM EDT


Veterans from 1960s chemical tests press for help

By ERICA WERNER
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lawmakers and veterans of secret Cold War-era chemical and germ tests on military personnel demanded help from the Bush administration Thursday, but they got no satisfaction.

Officials from the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department said there was no need for legislation to guarantee health care and benefits to the veterans. Thousands of servicemembers were exposed, often without their knowledge, to real and simulated chemical and biological agents, including sarin and VX.

The tests were conducted at sea and above a half-dozen U.S. states from 1962-1973 to see how U.S. ships would withstand chemical and germ assaults and how such weapons would disperse.

"We were exposed to health hazards almost continuously," retired Navy Reserve Lt. Commander Jack Alderson told the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee on disability assistance.

Veterans who tried to get help from the V.A. were "shown the door," Alderson said, his voice loud and choked with emotion.

"I guess this is one of those times when someone should apologize to you on behalf of your country, so I will presume to do that," the panel's chairman, Democratic Rep. John Hall of New York, told Alderson.

Administration officials said there was no definitive link between the tests - called Project 112 and Project SHAD - and illnesses, including cancer and respiratory problems, now afflicting Alderson and others.

"DOD opposes this legislation. The scientific evidence does not support" it, Michael L. Dominguez, a principal deputy undersecretary of defense, said in written testimony to the panel.

The Pentagon did not send Dominguez or anyone else to testify in person. That aggravated Hall, who said the Defense Department backed out just last week after initially agreeing to attend.

"The nexus between DOD and V.A. is undeniable," Hall said as the hearing began. "Congress deserves the right to question the appropriate DOD personnel in person, not just in writing."

DOD spokeswoman Cynthia Smith defended the agency's no-show and said officials would respond to questions raised at the hearing.

"All V.A. issues are extremely important to the DOD," Smith said. "We decided the most effective and efficient way to handle this issue was to submit written testimony."

The V.A. witness echoed what DOD had to say. Bradley Mayes, the Veterans Affairs director of compensation and pensions, called legislation unnecessary because the agency was not "aware of evidence linking any disease to participation in project SHAD."

The bill under consideration is patterned after legislation passed in 1991 to help people exposed to Agent Orange, the chemical defoliant use used by U.S. forces in Vietnam that was linked to cancer and other ailments. Written by Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., it would guarantee coverage and benefits to veterans of Projects 112 and SHAD without requiring them to prove a connection to their military service.

Thompson said it took DOD decades to admit the secret tests actually happened and he put no stock in their refusal to recognize health problems the tests may have caused.

A similar bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee later this month.


_______________________________________________
End of AP Release on Hearing June 12th

This message has been edited. Last edited by: McClellanVet,

That's great sue, it's about time all of your hard work is finally going to be heard. It looks like you have a great croud on your side. Good Luck