(Washington, DC) - Congressman Baron Hill is urging his congressional colleagues to take a closer look at our soldiers who have been exposed to harmful chemicals while deployed in Iraq and have subsequently developed serious health problems.  To that end, Hill has introduced the Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009, H.R. 2389.  And, he is supporting Congressman Kurt Schrader of Oregon’s amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act also addressing this issue.

In 2003, members of the Indiana, Oregon, West Virginia and South Carolina National Guard were exposed to the highly-toxic chemical Sodium Dichromate while guarding a water treatment plant in Iraq.  Many of these soldiers have developed serious, and similar, health conditions.  However, linking such health problems to their service in Iraq has rendered difficult and frustrating.

That is why Hill introduced H.R. 2389, the Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act of 2009, on May 13, 2009.  The legislation, which has a companion measure in the Senate, would establish a registry of members and former members of the Armed Forces exposed in the line of duty to chemical hazards, and make such applicable veterans eligible for a series of medical examinations and laboratory tests.  Similar to the Agent Orange registry, the bill would also authorize the Department of Defense to contract with the Institute of Medicine to conduct a scientific review of the evidence linking certain health consequences to exposure.  And, it would elevate veterans’ status for health care at VA facilities by recognizing a veteran’s own report of exposure and inclusion on the registry as sufficient proof to receive medical care. 

“We have a duty to protect the health and safety of our soldiers,” Hill said.  “And, we have a duty to ensure their medical needs are taken care of and to prevent others from similar suffering.” 

Hill has also worked with Congressman Schrader (D-OR), who is a cosponsor of H.R. 2389, on making sure this issue receives attention in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), H.R. 2647.  The NDAA is scheduled to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives later this week, and Hill plans to support Rep. Schrader’s amendment to the bill. 

The amendment would require the Defense Secretary to notify the member or (in the case of a reservist) the state military department of servicemembers exposed to potentially harmful materials or contaminants as determined by the Defense Secretary. If the exposure occurs while the member is deployed, the notification shall occur while the member is so deployed. 

“I applaud Mr. Schrader for offering this amendment and will certainly support it,” Hill said.  “However, this is just one aspect of the larger issue at hand and I will continue to push for passage and enactment of my bill.”