Las Vegas Sun

November 28, 2009

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House approves bill to remember nuclear defense workers

By Lisa Mascaro (contact)

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 | 5:23 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- It may be a simple gesture, but the House today overwhelmingly approved a resolution that establishes Friday as a day of remembrance for Nevada Test Site workers and other employees of the nation’s nuclear defense industry.

Authored by Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley of Las Vegas, the day will be set aside for the nation to “salute the hundreds of thousands of men and women who built and maintained America’s nuclear defense capacity for more than 60 years,” the congresswoman said.

Berkley said these workers, including those at the Nevada Test Site and elsewhere, were in some cases exposed to radiation and other toxic substances, and many became sick with cancer after having worked at the sites.

The workers, Berkley said, "placed their health and safety at risk in order to assure a strong and effective nuclear defense program.”

The bill was supported by most of the Nevada delegation including Democratic Rep. Dina Titus and Republican Rep. Dean Heller. A similar bill was passed earlier this year in the Senate.

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