ICYMI: Senator Patty Murray Secures Major Increase in President’s Budget Request for Hanford Cleanup, Continues to Push on Federal Commitment – MORE HERE
Murray: “My new bill will expand access to benefits for sick workers who are not getting the care they need because of a technicality—this is a wrong I am determined to make right. Passing this legislation will save lives and I’ll be working hard to get this done as soon as possible.”
***VIDEO OF THE EVENT HERE***
***PHOTOS OF THE ROUNDTABLE HERE***
(Pasco, WA) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced new legislation that would expand access to benefits for more past and current Hanford workers that are exposed to beryllium but unable to access care due to outdated federal laws that place overly burdensome requirements around proof of illness on workers.
Senator Murray held a roundtable meeting with Hanford workers and labor leaders at UA Local 598, where she was joined by Steve Maki, Worker Trainer Director at the Volpentest Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response (HAMMER) for Central Washington Building Trades; Jeff McDaniels, President of Hanford Atomic Metal Trades Council (HAMTC); Nickolas A. Bumpaous, President of the Central Washington Building and Construction Trades Council and the Business Manager for UA Local 598, Plumbers and Steamfitters; Steve Mauri, Worker Trainer Director at HAMMER for HAMTC; and AJ Fouts, Government Affairs Director for the Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 598.
“The federal government has a legal and moral obligation to the Hanford workers who are doing incredible and important work at Hanford—it’s my job to make sure the administration is living up to that obligation, whether that’s securing federal dollars for the Hanford site or making sure Hanford workers are getting the benefits they have earned,” said Senator Murray. “My new bill will expand access to benefits for sick workers who are not getting the care they need because of a technicality—this is a wrong I am determined to make right. Passing this legislation will save lives and I’ll be working hard to get this done as soon as possible.”
“Workplace exposure to toxic substances for workers is deeply personal to me. My personal experience with beryllium exposure, my background as an advocate and workforce representative, allows me to help minimize exposures for all workers,” said Calin Tebay, worker and health advocate. “This also allows me to help current and former workers, and their families, get access, education, and care they deserve. For nearly 12 years, I have worked with colleagues and medical professionals across the country with a shared goal of creating consistent, accurate, and up to date diagnosis criteria for Beryllium related Disease and Conditions. This would include updating the Department of Labor’s diagnosis criteria for Beryllium Sensitization to ensure workers exposed to this toxic metal, and are diagnosed with this condition, can and will receive care. I strongly support this legislation and appreciate Senator Murray for listening to and working with the Hanford workers, medical experts, and many others and taking on this important issue.”
“Occupational exposure to beryllium is a serious threat to workers, including those involved in the production and cleanup of our nation’s nuclear weapons. Fortunately, these workers can receive medical care and benefits through the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act (EEOICPA). The BeLPT is a test that detects whether workers have developed beryllium sensitization, which puts them at risk for developing chronic beryllium disease (CBD), said Dr. Lee Newman, beryllium disease expert and Distinguished Professor, Director of the Center for Health, Work & Environment at the University of Colorado. “I strongly support Senator Murray’s legislation, which reflects our updated medical and scientific understanding that EEOICPA’s definition of BeLPT should be updated. CBD is a serious disease with no cure, but early detection can help slow its progression. This legislation will help workers receive the timely care they deserve.”
“For years now, research studies conducted by National Jewish Health and others have shown that three borderline beryllium lymphocyte proliferation tests (BeLPTs) confirms a diagnosis of beryllium sensitization and indicates a risk for developing chronic beryllium disease,” said Dr. Lisa Maier, Chief of the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at National Jewish Health. “These individuals have been exposed to beryllium as they’ve worked to protect our nation’s security. We are extremely grateful that Senator Murray and others are working to forward this important legislation to help get appropriate care and compensation to those impacted workers.”
For decades, beryllium was used to cap nuclear rods, including at the Hanford site. Beryllium is a heavy metal, exposure to which can cause “beryllium sensitization” or, in more advanced cases Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD). CBD leads to scarring on the lungs causing many other respiratory problems, including an increased incidence of lung cancers. Currently, the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act (EEOICPA), through which Hanford workers dealing with issues stemming from their exposure to beryllium receive care and benefits.
As the law is currently written, someone must present one abnormal blood test and evidence of a lung disease in order to receive benefits and care for their illness through the EEOICPA. Many workers or former workers, however, receive “borderline” test results for years while symptoms manifest or they never get the “abnormal” result at all. This legislation would amend the EEOICPA to count three “borderline” results as sufficient evidence to receive a diagnosis of beryllium sensitivity. This provision would apply to former, current, and future workers so no one would face unfair barriers to care.
The bill would also extend the Department of Labor’s independent Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health for five more years, through 2029. The Board is charged with advising the Secretary of Labor on matters relating to workplace safety for workers onsite with toxic substances and is instrumental in helping improve the federal compensation process for workers, including those at Hanford, to gain the health care and benefits they deserve. This legislation is supported by the Hanford Worker Engagement Center, National Jewish Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado, and the Center for Health, Work & Environment, Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado.
Senator Murray has led the fight in Congress to secure funding for the cleanup at the Hanford, protect workers, and support the Tri-Cities communities. Earlier this summer, she secured an unprecedented increase in President Biden’s budget request for Hanford site cleanup, putting that request at $2.613 billion for FY2023.
In the FY2022 government funding package, Senator Murray secured $2.595 billion for the Hanford site cleanup—notably, this was $128 million above the President’s Budget Request. As she negotiates funding for the fiscal 2023 budget, Senator Murray is fighting to build on the previous budget’s funding and the increased request by the President will be critical as she seeks to secure the strongest possible funding for the Hanford site cleanup. The President’s revised budget request came only after Murray’s strong urging and public exchanges with Secretary Granholm and OMB Budget Director Shalanda Young.
In March 2021, Senator Murray reintroduced and is currently fighting to pass the Toxic Exposure Safety Act which would make it easier for workers at the Hanford site and other nuclear clean-up sites to receive the full benefits they’re entitled to when suffering from illnesses due to toxic exposure on the job.
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