Las Vegas Sun

December 6, 2009

Currently: 33° | Complete forecast | Log in

More cancers added to radiation compensation

Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001 | 10:03 a.m.

Military veterans who were exposed to radiation -- or the veterans' survivors -- may become eligible for benefits after the Bush administration on Monday added five cancers to a list of diseases eligible in a federal compensation package.

Service men and women were exposed to radiation not only during atmospheric nuclear experiments at the Nevada Test Site but also at Hiroshima and Nagasaki after atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities 51 years ago this month.

The Office of Management and Budget decided to include cancers of the lungs, colon, bone, ovary, brain and central nervous system, Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., announced.

Wellstone, who has worked for expanded benefits since 1994, credited Veterans Administration Secretary Tony Principi for advocating the additional benefits.

Last year President Clinton signed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which provides compensation and medical benefits to civilian employees of the Department of Energy who were exposed to radiation, dust or beryllium at government facilities, such as the Test Site.

archive

  • Most Read
  • Discussed
  • Most E-mailed

Complete Listing

Calendar »

  • 6 Sun
  • 7 Mon
  • 8 Tue
  • 9 Wed
  • 10 Thu

All events on Sunday »