What I'm Working On
-
Ensuring Rocky Flats workers’ claims are evaluated fairly
In March 2010, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report entitled Energy Employees Compensation: Additional Independent Oversight and Transparency Would Improve Program's Credibility. I introduced legislation (S.545) that draws from the GAO report's recommendation to require the president to establish an independent advisory panel comprised of members representing the scientific, medical, legal, workers, and worker advocate communities to help ensure our nation's nuclear workers are properly cared for. The board would review and report on the scientific soundness of the Department of Labor's health-related services for such workers, including eligibility based on the site-exposure matrix, guidance provided to claims examiners on medical evidence, and probability of causation standards for radiation-related cancers, as outlined in GAO's recommendation. I'll continue fighting to get the rightful compensation for the thousands of Coloradans who were exposed to dangerous substances while building our nation's nuclear arsenal to win the Cold War.
-
Charlie Wolf Nuclear Workers Compensation Act
I Introduced the Charlie Wolf Nuclear Workers Compensation Act to improve a program designed to compensate workers who became ill because of their work at Rocky Flats and other nuclear weapons sites. Named for Charlie Wolf, a former Rocky Flats employee who developed brain cancer related to his work at the site, the bill would make important changes to reduce the bureaucracy in the program and expand the list of cancers for which individuals are eligible to receive compensation.