House leaders near deal for nuke workers

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000 | 11:27 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Congressional negotiators today were toiling on a new compromise that could entitle former nuclear weapons workers to $100,000, or possibly $150,000, plus medical benefits, from the federal government.

That's less than the $200,000 Nevada's delegation and some senators working on the plan wanted.

But the figures may be palatable enough to seal a compromise between the bipartisan group of senators and Republican House leaders who have been trying to work out a deal on the legislation.

Late last week the House leaders were advocating no immediate compensation for workers, instead calling for a six-month study, sparking some criticism.

"Every day of delay ensures that many who would benefit from this reparation will die before we recognize their loyalty and sacrifice," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote Tuesday in a letter to negotiators.

At issue is whether roughly 4,000 workers from all over the nation would be compensated for health problems they incurred constructing and testing the nation's nuclear arsenal. Many workers were exposed to radiation and beryllium. The Department of Energy this year for the first time admitted that the government work harmed laborers.

Nevada's delegation in Congress has been lobbying for compensation for roughly 800 Nevada Test Site workers who developed silicosis working in underground tunnels.

As a combined House-Senate panel of lawmakers continued work on the legislation today, word filtered out of the closed meeting room that a compromise may be near.

Details today were sketchy. A DOE spokeswoman who is following the legislation said she could not confirm the status of negotiations.

But several Nevada office staffers said the compromise likely would include silicosis victims if President Clinton supported that provision. Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., has said Clinton supports it.

Nevada's four-member delegation was monitoring the deal-making, staffers said.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said he had met with House Republican leaders Tuesday night, and they agreed to include silicosis victims and wanted to approve a compensation deal in these final days of Congress.

"I don't know if this makes everyone happy, but we are working in the right direction," Gibbons said. "It is now looking like it could very well be a reality."