LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing the United States Congress to enact
legislation having like effect as the Atomic Veterans Medal Act of 2007
(HR3471/S2218), the Recognition of Forgotten Atomic Veterans and their
Surviving Spouses Act of 2007 (HR3794) and the Atomic Veterans Relief
Act (HR4052)

WHEREAS, Approximately 235 atmospheric and underwater atomic tests
conducted from July 16, 1945 to 1963 utilized 225,000 American service
personnel of every branch of the military as test subjects in providing
answers for scientists, researchers and government policy makers on the
unknowns and effects of ionizing radiation; and
WHEREAS, Site participants were placed in very hazardous and extremely
dangerous areas exposing them to unknown factors of Alpha, Beta and
Gamma radiation in the performance of their duties without formal train-
ing, advance knowledge of the hazards involved and with little or no
protective gear; and
WHEREAS, Public and personal acknowledgement of site participation was
severely restricted until 1996 and remains classified in many areas
related to individual exposure rates under National Security Acts, indi-
vidual service jackets and many medical records remain mute with regard
to historical facts normally available; and
WHEREAS, The technical data, construction concepts, systems develop-
ment, training and ultimate deployment of today's Nuclear Fleet and
weapons systems would not have been realized without the service and
sacrifice of the atomic veteran; and
WHEREAS, The study of their human exposure provided the foundations
for advancements in nuclear medicine, power generation and many other
areas of true significant benefit for all humanity; and
WHEREAS, Exposure to radiation caused many to be wounded by an enemy
that cannot be seen, felt, heard or in time healed and has doomed those
service members so afflicted to a lifetime battle for their very
survival and current estimates indicate 75% of the original participants
are deceased; and
WHEREAS, It was from 1945 to 1988 before the Federal Government
acknowledged the sick and pleading atomic veterans in Senate Committee
hearings and began to slowly provide cancer treatment under presumptive
causes and with no service connection entitlement for these veterans
(PL100-321); and
WHEREAS, Helen Malaskiewicz, senior environmental health coordinator
of the Department of Veterans Affairs stated, "I regret this group of
veterans has been overlooked (hopefully this will be only in the past
and not in the future) but we are trying our best to make certain they
are remembered for their service"; and
WHEREAS, In 2002 President George W. Bush in a nationwide statement
said, the atomic veteran's exposure to nuclear radiation was as grave as
any war veteran who was wounded in action, where in both cases the
veteran stood in harm's way, did their duty and protected the United
States of America; and
WHEREAS, In 2003 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi stated
in a speech delivered to the National Association of Atomic Veterans,
"On July 16, 1945, a new light burst upon the face of the earth at 5:30
a.m."..."The burden was placed on your shoulders - soldiers, sailors,
airmen and marines on duty from 1945 to 1963 - to take on the role of
living test subjects in order for scientists and researchers and govern-
ment policymakers to gain answers to the questions posed by ionizing
radiation"..."that would leave you vulnerable to hidden wounds not from
bullets and shrapnel, but from neutrons and gamma rays"..."What you

didn't know was that you were risking a dear price for every lesson that
was learned. You battled an invisible enemy - ionizing radiation - and
that enemy can leave physical and emotional scares just as real as the
scars borne by veterans wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, or hit by
fire during the battle of Pork Chop Hill, or injured during the Battle
of the Coral Sea or shot down during the air battles over Vietnam. Their
battles were real and so are yours. Their wounds were real and so is the
damage inflicted by ionizing radiation"; and
WHEREAS, The allied countries of Great Britain, New Zealand and
Australia have been presented a Queen-authorized special medal to honor
their nation's Atomic Veterans who served with the United States during
atomic tests by this nation; and
WHEREAS, The cost of freedom is purchased and paid for through the
service and sacrifice of every uniformed service member and recorded as
part of our national and military histories, so to, must it include and
acknowledge the service and sacrifice of the atomic test participants,
radiated veterans and those exposed to the ill effects of depleted
uranium; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Paul Stewart Irwin Post 136 of Mulvane, Kansas urges
The American Legion to support passage of the listed bills currently in
the United States Congress related to congressionally recognized Atomic
Veterans and Radiated Veterans; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body urges the United States House of
Representatives and the United States Senate to enact the following
pieces of legislation: HR3471 cited as the "Atomic Veterans Medal Act of
2007", S2218 Senate companion bill cited as the "Atomic Veterans Medal
Act of 2007", HR3794 cited as the "Recognition of Forgotten Atomic
Veterans and their Surviving Spouses Act of 2007", and HR4052 cited as
the "Atomic Veterans Relief Act"; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body urges the President of the United
States to sign and enact the legislation described when favorably
reported and forwarded by the United States Congress; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each Department of the American Legion, the President of the
United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Represen-
tatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the United
States Department of Defense.