Washington, DC - Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) wants to make it easier for soldiers to get medical exams and tests after being exposed to toxic chemicals.

Approximately 600 Indiana National Guardsmen may have been exposed to cancer-causing sodium dichromate while guarding a water treatment plant in Iraq. Two soldiers have been diagnosed with cancer. Sixteen soldiers are suing the defense contractor, KBR. Sen. Bayh will now propose legislation for a medical registry.

"Anyone who was potentially exposed to this would be able to sign up for a registry, so when they come down to symptoms, they will be eligible for treatment in a Veterans Administration facility," said Bayh during a recent interview.

"Ordinarily, the former soldier has to prove the condition resulted from their service," added Bayh. "In this case, we will presume that it resulted from their service instead of having to jump through all those legal hoops, so immediately they will be able to get the kind of care they need from the specialists they need."

In September, 2008, Senator Bayh asked Secretary of the Army Pete Geren to investigate whether the Indiana soldiers were properly tested for Hexavalent Chromium during their 2003 tour of duty at the Qarmat Ali Water Injection Facility in Iraq. According to the Under Secretary of the Army, the Army review panel has completed its work and is expected to release its findings early next week.

"Sen. Bayh is anxious to receive a full briefing from the Army about their findings in this important investigation," said Bayh spokesman Eric Kleiman.

"He will be reintroducing his legislation to create an Agent Orange style registry in January to ensure all American troops exposed to toxic contaminants during wartime service receive priority VA care," said Kleiman. "Moving this bill through Congress will be at the top of Sen. Bayh's legislative agenda when the Senate reconvenes."

Kleiman says Bayh's legislation would establish a registry making at-risk veterans eligible for a series of medical examinations and laboratory tests.

"It would also authorize a scientific review of the evidence linking exposure to adverse health effects. Under the Bayh approach, a veteran's own report of exposure would constitute sufficient proof necessary to receive medical care, barring evidence to the contrary," said Kleiman.

"Finally, the legislation would require front-line commanders to report hazardous material exposure to their non-deployed headquarters," added Kleiman. "This is in direct response to [Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, Adjutant General] not hearing until years after the incident," said Kleiman. "Clinton and Obama both co-sponsored this legislation when Bayh first introduced it in the fall."

"While Qarmat Ali inspired our legislation is not the only incident of suspected toxic exposure facing American soldiers serving abroad," said Kleiman.

"Other incidents include: Al Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center in Iraq, with possible excessive exposure levels of ionizing radiation; Al-Samawah in Iraq, with depleted uranium and exposure to toxic chemicals; Ash Shuaiba Port in Kuwait, with industrial pollution at a large port; Camp War Eagle in Iraq, with possible airborne lead exposures; Baghdad, with possible exposure to sarin; Kharsi Khanabad in Uzbekistan, with suspected environmental radiological and chemical agent contamination; and Al Mishraq Sulfur Plant in Iraq, with airborne combustion products from a sulfur fire," said Kleiman.

###