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COMMITTEE REPORT
April 25, 2017
H. 4074
Introduced by Reps. Clemmons, Yow, J.E. Smith, Williams, Fry, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bedingfield, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brown, Burns, Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, McEachern, McKnight, Mitchell, D.C. Moss, V.S. Moss, Murphy, B. Newton, W. Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, Sandifer, Simrill, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Weeks, West, Wheeler, Whipper, White, Whitmire and Willis
S. Printed 4/25/17--S.
Read the first time April 4, 2017.
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4074)
to memorialize the United States Congress and urge them to pass H.R. 2747, the "Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act"., etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:
KATRINA F. SHEALY for Committee.
TO MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND URGE THEM TO PASS H.R. 2747, THE "ATOMIC VETERANS SERVICE MEDAL ACT".
Whereas, in the aftermath of World War II and during the Cold War, the United States detonated more than 200 above-ground and undersea nuclear bombs under the surveillance of members of the armed forces; and
Whereas, the atomic testing program included a wide range of experiments, with service members watching from ships or desert trenches, pilots flying planes into mushroom clouds, and other service members observing the blasts underwater while swimming or in a submarine; and
Whereas, troops were exposed to detonations to see how they would react to a nuclear attack and whether equipment would function after a blast; and
Whereas, in 1988, Congress passed legislation to provide compensation to radiation-exposed veterans who developed any of thirteen types of cancers with the list expanding to cover twenty-one cancers; and
Whereas, additional service members were sent to clean up the testing sites, removing radioactive materials before mixing them with cement and burying them. These service members are not eligible for atomic veteran compensation; and
Whereas, despite previous attempts to recognize atomic veterans, the legislation has never made it out of committee. The moment to recognize these veterans is long overdue and it is time to pass the "Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act" to thank those who have suffered as a result of their service to the country. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, memorialize the United States Congress and urge them to pass H.R. 2747, the "Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act".
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to each member of the United States congressional delegation from South Carolina.
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