SENATORBENTAMINJ.F.CRUZ,VICESPE.UE \:-I'TRE\T.II L~3x-N.iLIHLVLI TI R.L\' GI:.~H.I.\- Chairman.~ommitteeon Youth,Cultural Affairs. Procur Is' Guam Legislature .senetor@senstorbjcrurcom General Government 0perations.and Public Broadc eder Place, Hagatna, Guam 96910 Web Address: www.senatorbjcroz.c one: (671)477-252011 Fax: (671)477-2522
June 1,2011
The Honorable 'Tom Udall Washington, DC 110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC, 205 10 (202) 224-662 1
Re: S. 791 - To Amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
Dear Senator Udall:
I am writing in support of the 20 11 amendments to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include Guam; an increase of compensation for "downwinders" from $50,000 to $150,000; and medical benefits. I think these amendments are important to the well-being of victims that have suffered horribly due to nuclear testing. These amendments would also relieve the economic difficulties that victims and their families have endured throughout the years.
In the largest nuclear test ever conducted in the Pacific, the United States detonated a 15- megaton hydrogen bomb code-named Castle Bravo over Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands on March 1, 1954. 'The blast was a thousand times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War 11. Within a minute, the mushroom cloud reached a height of 47,000 feet and a diameter of seven miles. The strong winds showered the fallout across the compass of the Pacific Ocean, including Guam. Unfortunately, it was not until many years later that Guamanians realized that the emergence of long-term health problems and cancers were consistent with radiation exposure from the Castle Bravo fallout.
Thank you for introducing the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 20 11. If it passes, victims of nuclear fallout on Guam that have been forgotten for too long may receive compensation. Please convey my wholehearted support for the passage of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 201 1 to the relevant legislative committees. SENATORBENJAWN J.F.CRUZ,VICESPE.AKE IML\II'TRE.\Z,IIII\T-NI LIIILSL in R.L\-Gr I~ILI.\- Chairrnan.~ornmitteeon Youth,Cultural Affairs, Procurement, The 31'' Guam Legislature [email protected] General Governmen: 0perations.and Public Broadcasting. 155 Hesler Place, Hagatna, Guam 96910 Web Adclress: www.senatorbjcruz. corn elephone: (671) 477-252011 Fax: (671) 477-2522
June 1,201 1
The Honorable Ben Ray Lujan Washington, DC Office: 330 Cannon HOB Washington, D.C. 205 15 Ph: (202) 225-6190 Fax: (202) 226-1528
Re: H.R. 1490 - To Amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
Dear Represents-tive Lujan:
I am writing in support of the 201 1 amendments to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include Guam; an increase of compensation for "downwinders" from $50,000 to $150,000; and medical benefits. I think these amendments are important to the well-being of victims that have suffered horribly due to nuclear testing. These amendments would also relieve the economic difficulties that victims and their families have endured throughout the years.
In the largest nuclear test ever conducted in the Pacific, the United States detonated a 15- megaton hydrogen bomb code-named Castle Bravo over Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands on March 1, 1954. The blast was a thousand times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War 11. Within a minute, the mushroom cloud reached a height of 47,000 feet and a diameter of seven miles. The strong winds showered the fallout across the compass of the Pacific Ocean, including Guam. Unfortunately, it was not until many years later that Guamanians realized that the emergence of long-term health problems and cancers were consistent with radiation exposure from the Castle Bravo fallout.
Thank you for introducing H.R. 1490 to amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. If it passes, victims of nuclear fallout on Guam that have been forgotten for too long may receive compensation. Please convey my wholehearted support for the passage of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 201 1 to the relevant congressional committees.
PnB jam' J. .C