Dec 30, 2009
Dec 26, 2009
Lejeune amendment signed into law as part of defense funding bill regarding water contamination
Thank you, a small step, but a welcomed one for the survivors, though we be fewer everyday.
Dec 24, 2009
'Twas the Eve Before Christmas
The poem below is dedicated to all the Tea Partiers and Patriots who have braved foul weather and word to stand up for liberty and freedom. It is a take off on “’Twas the Night before Christmas” a poem By Clement Moore, enjoy!
'Twas the eve before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a Congressman was stirring, not even a mouse.
The Senate was in session, whilst we slept unaware,
For on this eve they were voting, for a monstrous nightmare.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While Senators had visions of grandeur dancing in their heads.
They finnagled and bribed till their energy did sap,
Hoping we had settled our brains, for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
They sprang to the window to see what was the matter.
There standing in defiance, with signs and words brash,
Were the people of America saying this bill is trash!
The moon shown full on the new-fallen snow
and highlighted the Patriots vigil below.
In true Washington insider style, not a Senator did appear,
They hid in the shadows from the constituents they feared.
With little concern for our voices that day,
They worked on a bill that would really make us pay.
Under cloak of darkness they schemed and then came,
To accuse us of being terrorists and worse, by name!
Now Reid! Now, Schumer! Now Boxer and Nelson!
On, Baucus! On, Warner! On, Webb and Harkin!
Go ahead and ignore us, ignore us one and all!
And like Humpty Dumpty prepare for the fall!
A bill with so many pages, it could darken the sky,
The Democrat Senators lined up, for a slice of the pie.
They had handouts for Acorn and Planned Parenthood, too,
They took care of the unions AFL-CIO, UAW and SEIU.
They knew they were wrong, but the burden of proof,
’Twas left to the people to shout from every roof.
They spoke of saving money, while the pork did abound,
They all knew that their bill, was not fiscally sound.
Some spoke of insurance for the poor without any new tax,
And preconditions by the insurance carriers to axe.
They proposed many new agencies, your tax dollars would back,
And they peddled good cheer and condolences like veteran hacks.
Their eyes-how they twinkled! They all seemed so merry!
A political victory, but bi-partisan, not very!
They seemed all in a fervor, a lesson to show,
To those who would dare protest, even in the snow.
Harry Reid cracked his whip through tightly gritted teeth,
And the Democrat Senators lined up for an ill bill, to bequeath.
They thought that, hope and change, they would surely endow,
But they failed to see, it could only be, by the sweat of our brow!
To our seniors they said, for so many years that they had paid,
You should make room for the less fortunate and they cut Medi-care/aide!
With a wink of the eye, they said, you’ll have nothing to dread,
For the tax burden for this bill, falls squarely, on everyone’s head
They thought in their wisdom, to start early paying the debt,
And the benefits to come, well, in four years might be there yet,
And all through the land a great clamor arose,
For We the People weren’t fooled, as we held our nose!
And here we all stand together, in candle light so soft,
Giving witness to our patriot hearts, under the moon aloft.
And with no ill will to them who have tried to drive Christ out of sight,
"We wish a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Tom Whitmore
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_a.png?x-id=4af60e47-12d7-485b-93ad-36bc9db285d7)
'Twas the eve before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a Congressman was stirring, not even a mouse.
The Senate was in session, whilst we slept unaware,
For on this eve they were voting, for a monstrous nightmare.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While Senators had visions of grandeur dancing in their heads.
They finnagled and bribed till their energy did sap,
Hoping we had settled our brains, for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
They sprang to the window to see what was the matter.
There standing in defiance, with signs and words brash,
Were the people of America saying this bill is trash!
The moon shown full on the new-fallen snow
and highlighted the Patriots vigil below.
In true Washington insider style, not a Senator did appear,
They hid in the shadows from the constituents they feared.
With little concern for our voices that day,
They worked on a bill that would really make us pay.
Under cloak of darkness they schemed and then came,
To accuse us of being terrorists and worse, by name!
Now Reid! Now, Schumer! Now Boxer and Nelson!
On, Baucus! On, Warner! On, Webb and Harkin!
Go ahead and ignore us, ignore us one and all!
And like Humpty Dumpty prepare for the fall!
A bill with so many pages, it could darken the sky,
The Democrat Senators lined up, for a slice of the pie.
They had handouts for Acorn and Planned Parenthood, too,
They took care of the unions AFL-CIO, UAW and SEIU.
They knew they were wrong, but the burden of proof,
’Twas left to the people to shout from every roof.
They spoke of saving money, while the pork did abound,
They all knew that their bill, was not fiscally sound.
Some spoke of insurance for the poor without any new tax,
And preconditions by the insurance carriers to axe.
They proposed many new agencies, your tax dollars would back,
And they peddled good cheer and condolences like veteran hacks.
Their eyes-how they twinkled! They all seemed so merry!
A political victory, but bi-partisan, not very!
They seemed all in a fervor, a lesson to show,
To those who would dare protest, even in the snow.
Harry Reid cracked his whip through tightly gritted teeth,
And the Democrat Senators lined up for an ill bill, to bequeath.
They thought that, hope and change, they would surely endow,
But they failed to see, it could only be, by the sweat of our brow!
To our seniors they said, for so many years that they had paid,
You should make room for the less fortunate and they cut Medi-care/aide!
With a wink of the eye, they said, you’ll have nothing to dread,
For the tax burden for this bill, falls squarely, on everyone’s head
They thought in their wisdom, to start early paying the debt,
And the benefits to come, well, in four years might be there yet,
And all through the land a great clamor arose,
For We the People weren’t fooled, as we held our nose!
And here we all stand together, in candle light so soft,
Giving witness to our patriot hearts, under the moon aloft.
And with no ill will to them who have tried to drive Christ out of sight,
"We wish a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Tom Whitmore
Dec 20, 2009
Dec 19, 2009
Lejeune Water Issues Included in Defense Bill
The North Carolina News Network - Water Issues Included in Defense Billl
Written by Bruce Ferrell
(WASHINGTON, D.C). – The U.S. Senate Saturday passed by a vote of 88-10 the final 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which includes an amendment sponsored by U.S. Senator Kay Hagan to support Camp Lejeune families affected by water contamination.
The amendment, which was cosponsored by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), prevents the Navy from disposing of water contamination claims before key Centers for Disease Control (CDC) studies are completed. The bill will now be sent to President Obama for his signature.
“The Defense Appropriations bill includes a critical amendment that will help bring closure to our former Lejeune families,” said Hagan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "The Navy must commit to funding the remaining CDC water contamination studies, and this amendment makes sure no claims are dismissed before the studies are complete. I will continue working to help these families get answers.”
Hagan also secured $35 million in North Carolina military projects in the bill. One of those projects directs more than $3 million for the Institute of Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University, which is one of the world’s leading regenerative medicine centers. Hagan has toured the Regenerative Medicine Institute on several occasions.
Hagan also included $1.28 million to establish three North Carolina National Guard Family Assistance Centers. The centers will support national guard families who do not live near a military base. Additional centers are planned in Asheville, Kannapolis, Raleigh, and Wilmington.
Written by Bruce Ferrell
(WASHINGTON, D.C). – The U.S. Senate Saturday passed by a vote of 88-10 the final 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which includes an amendment sponsored by U.S. Senator Kay Hagan to support Camp Lejeune families affected by water contamination.
The amendment, which was cosponsored by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), prevents the Navy from disposing of water contamination claims before key Centers for Disease Control (CDC) studies are completed. The bill will now be sent to President Obama for his signature.
“The Defense Appropriations bill includes a critical amendment that will help bring closure to our former Lejeune families,” said Hagan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "The Navy must commit to funding the remaining CDC water contamination studies, and this amendment makes sure no claims are dismissed before the studies are complete. I will continue working to help these families get answers.”
Hagan also secured $35 million in North Carolina military projects in the bill. One of those projects directs more than $3 million for the Institute of Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University, which is one of the world’s leading regenerative medicine centers. Hagan has toured the Regenerative Medicine Institute on several occasions.
Hagan also included $1.28 million to establish three North Carolina National Guard Family Assistance Centers. The centers will support national guard families who do not live near a military base. Additional centers are planned in Asheville, Kannapolis, Raleigh, and Wilmington.
Dec 15, 2009
Agency overseeing toxic substances urges Navy to fund study of water at NC Marine base - WTKR
Agency overseeing toxic substances urges Navy to fund study of water at NC Marine base - WTKR
By Associated Press
2:26 PM EST, December 15, 2009
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — The federal agency in charge of studying the effects of contaminated water on Marines and their families at a North Carolina base said critical gaps in funding still exist.
The Department of the Navy and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry have been fighting for months over the funding of a mortality study at Camp Lejeune.
In a letter Monday, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry argued that the study is "the most-time efficient" and valid method of determining the health effects.
The study will determine if there are higher mortality rates for active duty Marines who served at the base during the years that the water was contaminated.
By Associated Press
2:26 PM EST, December 15, 2009
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — The federal agency in charge of studying the effects of contaminated water on Marines and their families at a North Carolina base said critical gaps in funding still exist.
The Department of the Navy and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry have been fighting for months over the funding of a mortality study at Camp Lejeune.
In a letter Monday, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry argued that the study is "the most-time efficient" and valid method of determining the health effects.
The study will determine if there are higher mortality rates for active duty Marines who served at the base during the years that the water was contaminated.
Lejeune and El Toro: 'A Tale of Two Bases' - Salem-News.Com
Lejeune and El Toro: 'A Tale of Two Bases' - Salem-News.Com
This news story is about Marine veterans and their dependents that were exposed to toxic chemicals at former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
This news story is about Marine veterans and their dependents that were exposed to toxic chemicals at former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Dec 14, 2009
Dec 11, 2009
Dec 10, 2009
Dec 9, 2009
Dec 4, 2009
Navy to fund Lejeune water contamination studies
A letter obtained by The Associated Press shows the Navy will spend almost $2 million for another look at a 1998 study that investigated cancer and birth defects in babies born to women who were pregnant at Camp Lejeune before contaminated wells were shut down.
Read the rest of this story!!!
News-Talk 1110 WBT | News Story: Navy to fund Lejeune water contamination studies
Read the rest of this story!!!
News-Talk 1110 WBT | News Story: Navy to fund Lejeune water contamination studies
Nov 29, 2009
I-Team: The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten?
Please watch and email your thoughts to the reporter. It is very important for the station to receive feedback. Thanks!!!!
I-Team: The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten? - cbs4.com
I-Team: The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten? - cbs4.com
Nov 21, 2009
Camp Lejeune gets a $3 billion revamp - MarineCorpsTimes.com
3 Billion would go a long way in helping those people who were poisened by the water @ Camp Lejeune---seems to me, it would be better spent on helping them than cleaning up old crap that should be torn down anyway.
Camp Lejeune gets a $3 billion revamp - MarineCorpsTimes.com
Camp Lejeune gets a $3 billion revamp - MarineCorpsTimes.com
Nov 18, 2009
Nov 12, 2009
Nov 11, 2009
Nov 8, 2009
Nov 7, 2009
Nov 6, 2009
Nov 5, 2009
Nov 4, 2009
Oct 24, 2009
FISI Democrats Vote To Give ACORN Regulatory Authority Over Financial Institutions
I cannot believe that with all the crime and fraud this outfit is charged with and they will get this kind of 'authority'.
Outragious!!
FISI Democrats Vote To Give ACORN Regulatory Authority Over Financial Institutions
Outragious!!
FISI Democrats Vote To Give ACORN Regulatory Authority Over Financial Institutions
Oct 23, 2009
Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009- update
From Sen Richard Burr today- Thank you sir for your attention and participation!
--
Last week, I wrote about the Senate passing the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act. On Thursday, the President signed this important piece of legislation into law. This new law will give the Veterans’ Health Administration the ability to plan its budget one year ahead of the regular federal funding process. For a budget that has been delayed 18 times in 22 years, this is great news. I am proud to have co-sponsored this legislation and applaud the President for signing it into law. Our nation’s veterans deserve quality health care in a timely fashion, and this law will finally help them receive the care they earned.
On Wednesday, I attended a Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing that focused on 22 pieces of legislation affecting veterans health and benefits. In particular, the Committee heard from VA about my legislation, the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009. While scientific studies are ongoing, my legislation would allow veterans and their family members who were stationed at Camp Lejeune while the water was contaminated to get medical care from the VA. These veterans and their families deserve closure on this tragic situation, and I am hopeful this legislation will be approved by the Committee.
In an attempt to identify former Camp Lejeune residents who may have been affected, the Navy and Marine Corps have already established a registry that includes the names and contact information of 140,000 people. Currently, VA does not have access to this vital information. At Wednesday’s hearing, I pledged to do all I can to faciliate the sharing of this information between the Navy, the Marine Corps and VA. This way, federal agencies can begin working together to help these veterans get the care they need much more quickly.
Yesterday, the Lumbee Recognition Act, a bill I sponsored along with Senator Hagan, passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. This is a step in the right direction for the Lumbee Tribe to receive the federal recognition they deserve. I hope that the Senate will pass this important piece of legislation soon and fulfill its commitment to achieve justice for the Lumbees.
Also this week, I had the chance to greet over 100 World War II veterans from North Carolina who traveled to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. Representative Kissell, Representative McHenry, and almost 200 Patriot Guard Motorcyclists joined me in welcoming these heroes. I was truly honored to be invited to this celebration and grateful for a chance to hear the courageous stories of these American heroes.
For timely updates from Washington, please visit my blog.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Richard Burr
--
Last week, I wrote about the Senate passing the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act. On Thursday, the President signed this important piece of legislation into law. This new law will give the Veterans’ Health Administration the ability to plan its budget one year ahead of the regular federal funding process. For a budget that has been delayed 18 times in 22 years, this is great news. I am proud to have co-sponsored this legislation and applaud the President for signing it into law. Our nation’s veterans deserve quality health care in a timely fashion, and this law will finally help them receive the care they earned.
On Wednesday, I attended a Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing that focused on 22 pieces of legislation affecting veterans health and benefits. In particular, the Committee heard from VA about my legislation, the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009. While scientific studies are ongoing, my legislation would allow veterans and their family members who were stationed at Camp Lejeune while the water was contaminated to get medical care from the VA. These veterans and their families deserve closure on this tragic situation, and I am hopeful this legislation will be approved by the Committee.
In an attempt to identify former Camp Lejeune residents who may have been affected, the Navy and Marine Corps have already established a registry that includes the names and contact information of 140,000 people. Currently, VA does not have access to this vital information. At Wednesday’s hearing, I pledged to do all I can to faciliate the sharing of this information between the Navy, the Marine Corps and VA. This way, federal agencies can begin working together to help these veterans get the care they need much more quickly.
Yesterday, the Lumbee Recognition Act, a bill I sponsored along with Senator Hagan, passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. This is a step in the right direction for the Lumbee Tribe to receive the federal recognition they deserve. I hope that the Senate will pass this important piece of legislation soon and fulfill its commitment to achieve justice for the Lumbees.
Also this week, I had the chance to greet over 100 World War II veterans from North Carolina who traveled to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. Representative Kissell, Representative McHenry, and almost 200 Patriot Guard Motorcyclists joined me in welcoming these heroes. I was truly honored to be invited to this celebration and grateful for a chance to hear the courageous stories of these American heroes.
For timely updates from Washington, please visit my blog.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Richard Burr
Oct 21, 2009
Marine Wins Battle Against Camp Lejeune's Toxic Water - Salem-News.Com
A small victory, but still a victory-
Marine Wins Battle Against Camp Lejeune's Toxic Water - Salem-News.Com
Marine Wins Battle Against Camp Lejeune's Toxic Water - Salem-News.Com
Oct 16, 2009
Oct 12, 2009
Richard Burr-Blogs- Camp Lejeune Water Contamination hearings
Video of the hearings recently on capitol hill- Richard Burr, United States Senator of North Carolina: Blogs
Oct 11, 2009
Man with breast cancer testifies that he blames Marine base - CNN.com
Man with breast cancer testifies that he blames Marine base - CNN.com
More stories from this last week-
Camp Lejeune Families Speak to Senate MyFox Washington DC
The Case of Camp Lejeune: Breast Cancer in Men FitSugar.com (blog)
Former Lejeune residents testify at Senate Committee hearing Jacksonville Daily News
More stories from this last week-
Camp Lejeune Families Speak to Senate MyFox Washington DC
The Case of Camp Lejeune: Breast Cancer in Men FitSugar.com (blog)
Former Lejeune residents testify at Senate Committee hearing Jacksonville Daily News
Sep 25, 2009
Letter from Senator Burr on Lejeune Water Contamination
September 25, 2009
This week, the Senate has been voting on an appropriations bill to fund the Department of Interior. Although this was the main bill on the floor, most eyes have been on the Senate Finance Committee as they continue to work on a health care reform proposal introduced by Senator Baucus (D-MT) last week.
An amendment introduced by Senator Bunning (R-KY) that required the health care reform bill and estimates of its costs to be available to the public 72 hours before the final vote in the Finance Committee was rejected by a vote of 11-12. This amendment would have given Senators and the American people the opportunity to analyze and understand what is being voted on by the Committee. Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced a modified version of the amendment, which passed on a party-line vote, that requires that only "conceptual" language (essentially a summary) and cost analysis be available at some point before the Finance Committee votes.
I got the chance this week to speak about health care reform with Jon Scott and Jane Skinner on Fox News' Happening Now. As I’ve noted before, I agree that reform is needed, but the proposal put forth and now being debated in the Senate Finance Committee fails several crucial tests. The bill cuts Medicare by almost half a trillion dollars, increases spending and raises taxes.
To watch the interview, click here.
On Wednesday, I met with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to discuss CDC’s role in the scientific studies taking place at Camp Lejeune to determine the extent and impact of water contamination on the base. This came on the heels of a meeting I had last week with the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Secretary of the Navy to discuss the same issue. Earlier this summer, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) issued a report that determined that the water systems at Camp Lejeune were in some cases highly contaminated by two hazardous chemicals, but the report also stated that it could not determine for sure whether the people exposed to these chemicals may have suffered adverse health outcomes as a result. I am deeply concerned by this report as I feel that it creates more questions than answers.
Former Marines, their families, and former employees at Camp Lejeune have waited far too long for answers, and we need to start working toward a resolution. That is why Senator Kay Hagan and I introduced the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009. This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide health care to veterans and their family members who have experienced adverse health effects as a result of exposure to well water contaminated by human carcinogens at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Currently, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a division of CDC, is conducting scientific studies to further understand the extent of human exposure on Camp Lejeune. Once these studies are concluded, we will have a better idea of who was affected and how we can best help them. Stay tuned for updates on this process.
Also this week, the President criticized student lenders for being opposed to legislation that would overhaul federal student loan program. As I have mentioned before, I am against the Administration’s proposal to make the federal government the sole source of student loans because of the negative impact it would have on those trying to pursue higher education. Those affected most by the government taking over the student loan program would be the American students and their families. The Administration’s proposal would have a devastating effect on the non-profit College Foundation in North Carolina, which is the largest provider of student loans in our state.
Located in our State and not run by government bureaucrats in Washington, the College Foundation is best able to respond to the individual needs of North Carolina students and their parents. Last year, there were 354,482 college applications submitted by North Carolinians through CFNC.org (CFNC Services).
For timely updates from Washington, please visit my blog.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Richard Burr
*Please do not respond to this email address. To contact me please click here, or visit my website burr.senate.gov.
Asheville
Federal Building
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 204
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 350-2437
Fax: (828) 350-2439
Rocky Mount
100 Coast Line Street, Room 210
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Phone: (252) 977-9522
Fax: (252) 977-7902
Washington, DC
217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3154
Fax: (202) 228-2981
Winston-Salem
2000 West First Street
Suite 508
Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Phone: (800) 685-8916
Phone: (336) 631-5125
Fax: (336) 725-4493
Gastonia
City Hall
181 South Street, Room 222
Gastonia, NC 28052
Phone: (704) 833-0854
Fax: (704) 833-1467
Wilmington
201 North Front Street
Suite 809
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (888) 848-1833
Phone: (910) 251-1058
Fax: (910) 251-7975
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=03074a8a-b15b-43b4-b07d-3c1dacaad52c)
This week, the Senate has been voting on an appropriations bill to fund the Department of Interior. Although this was the main bill on the floor, most eyes have been on the Senate Finance Committee as they continue to work on a health care reform proposal introduced by Senator Baucus (D-MT) last week.
An amendment introduced by Senator Bunning (R-KY) that required the health care reform bill and estimates of its costs to be available to the public 72 hours before the final vote in the Finance Committee was rejected by a vote of 11-12. This amendment would have given Senators and the American people the opportunity to analyze and understand what is being voted on by the Committee. Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced a modified version of the amendment, which passed on a party-line vote, that requires that only "conceptual" language (essentially a summary) and cost analysis be available at some point before the Finance Committee votes.
I got the chance this week to speak about health care reform with Jon Scott and Jane Skinner on Fox News' Happening Now. As I’ve noted before, I agree that reform is needed, but the proposal put forth and now being debated in the Senate Finance Committee fails several crucial tests. The bill cuts Medicare by almost half a trillion dollars, increases spending and raises taxes.
To watch the interview, click here.
On Wednesday, I met with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to discuss CDC’s role in the scientific studies taking place at Camp Lejeune to determine the extent and impact of water contamination on the base. This came on the heels of a meeting I had last week with the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Secretary of the Navy to discuss the same issue. Earlier this summer, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) issued a report that determined that the water systems at Camp Lejeune were in some cases highly contaminated by two hazardous chemicals, but the report also stated that it could not determine for sure whether the people exposed to these chemicals may have suffered adverse health outcomes as a result. I am deeply concerned by this report as I feel that it creates more questions than answers.
Former Marines, their families, and former employees at Camp Lejeune have waited far too long for answers, and we need to start working toward a resolution. That is why Senator Kay Hagan and I introduced the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2009. This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide health care to veterans and their family members who have experienced adverse health effects as a result of exposure to well water contaminated by human carcinogens at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Currently, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a division of CDC, is conducting scientific studies to further understand the extent of human exposure on Camp Lejeune. Once these studies are concluded, we will have a better idea of who was affected and how we can best help them. Stay tuned for updates on this process.
Also this week, the President criticized student lenders for being opposed to legislation that would overhaul federal student loan program. As I have mentioned before, I am against the Administration’s proposal to make the federal government the sole source of student loans because of the negative impact it would have on those trying to pursue higher education. Those affected most by the government taking over the student loan program would be the American students and their families. The Administration’s proposal would have a devastating effect on the non-profit College Foundation in North Carolina, which is the largest provider of student loans in our state.
Located in our State and not run by government bureaucrats in Washington, the College Foundation is best able to respond to the individual needs of North Carolina students and their parents. Last year, there were 354,482 college applications submitted by North Carolinians through CFNC.org (CFNC Services).
For timely updates from Washington, please visit my blog.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Richard Burr
*Please do not respond to this email address. To contact me please click here, or visit my website burr.senate.gov.
Asheville
Federal Building
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 204
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 350-2437
Fax: (828) 350-2439
Rocky Mount
100 Coast Line Street, Room 210
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Phone: (252) 977-9522
Fax: (252) 977-7902
Washington, DC
217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3154
Fax: (202) 228-2981
Winston-Salem
2000 West First Street
Suite 508
Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Phone: (800) 685-8916
Phone: (336) 631-5125
Fax: (336) 725-4493
Gastonia
City Hall
181 South Street, Room 222
Gastonia, NC 28052
Phone: (704) 833-0854
Fax: (704) 833-1467
Wilmington
201 North Front Street
Suite 809
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (888) 848-1833
Phone: (910) 251-1058
Fax: (910) 251-7975
Sep 24, 2009
Male breast cancer patients blame water at Marine base - CNN.com
TAMPA, Florida (CNN) -- The sick men are Marines, or sons of Marines. All 20 of them were based at or lived at Camp Lejeune, the U.S. Marine Corps' training base in North Carolina, between the 1960s and the 1980s.
They all have had breast cancer -- a disease that strikes fewer than 2,000 men in the United States a year, compared with about 200,000 women. Each has had part of his chest removed as part of his treatment, along with chemotherapy, radiation or both.
Male breast cancer patients blame water at Marine base - CNN.com
They all have had breast cancer -- a disease that strikes fewer than 2,000 men in the United States a year, compared with about 200,000 women. Each has had part of his chest removed as part of his treatment, along with chemotherapy, radiation or both.
Male breast cancer patients blame water at Marine base - CNN.com
Sep 18, 2009
Sep 17, 2009
Camp Lejeune Contamination On CNN 9/24-25
Next week will be an important milestone in our struggle. On Thursday and Friday night (September 24th and 25th), CNN will air a two part story on the Campbell Brown show about Camp Lejeune at 8P.M. EST. The focus of the show will be on the discovery of 22 men who either lived, worked or served aboard Camp Lejeune and now share an unusual and rare commonality, male breast cancer.
The existence of this rare cancer clusters belies the Marine Corps’ latest attempt to kill the Camp Lejeune issue through the NRC report which was released last June. If their craftily structured report from the NRC is correct, then why have we found 22 men with breast cancer whose only commonality is that we all were exposed to the toxic drinking water while at Camp Lejeune? We also know that male breast cancer is not the only rare cancer cluster we have seen at Camp Lejeune. This report will open a lot of eyes and generate questions that the Marine Corps does not wish to be asked. Our intent is not only to ask the questions, but to force them to provide honest answers!
Please spread the word and get as many people as you can in front of the TV set next Thursday and Friday!
The existence of this rare cancer clusters belies the Marine Corps’ latest attempt to kill the Camp Lejeune issue through the NRC report which was released last June. If their craftily structured report from the NRC is correct, then why have we found 22 men with breast cancer whose only commonality is that we all were exposed to the toxic drinking water while at Camp Lejeune? We also know that male breast cancer is not the only rare cancer cluster we have seen at Camp Lejeune. This report will open a lot of eyes and generate questions that the Marine Corps does not wish to be asked. Our intent is not only to ask the questions, but to force them to provide honest answers!
Please spread the word and get as many people as you can in front of the TV set next Thursday and Friday!
Sep 16, 2009
Obama and Acorn - WSJ.com
Obama worked for Acorn and Acorn worked for Obama. That doesn't mean the president is implicated in any wrongdoing, but it suggests at least that the worse things get for Acorn, the more embarrassing it is for him. If the Justice Department fails to prosecute, it invariably would raise suspicions of political favoritism. This column does not care for special prosecutors, but the case for appointing one would seem to be stronger here than usual.
Obama and Acorn - WSJ.com
Obama and Acorn - WSJ.com
Big Government-SEIU: One of the Pillars of the ACORN Family
SEIU: ‘One of the Pillars of the ACORN Family’by Don Loos
For one of Big Labor’s most notorious organizing partners, ACORN, the “chickens have come home to roost” thanks to the James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles continuously unfolding ACORN exposé. If you rely on MSNBC for your news, you may not have noticed ACORN’s very thin “community organizer” veneer being sanded away exposing the rotten termite-infested wood underneath.
Part of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now’s (ACORN) rotten core includes a very cozy relationship with Big Labor. In fact, in many instances ACORN and Big Labor are one and the same. In 2008, Big Labor funneled ACORN millions of dollars for so-called organizing activity. But, that is only the tip of the Big Labor iceberg.
ACORN controls or significantly dominates several Big Labor unions and organizations. ACORN created and controls SEIU 100 (Gulf Region) and SEIU 880 (a recently expanded SEIU mega-local that covers Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas).
ACORN founder S. Wade Rathke referred to mega-union SEIU 880 as “one of the pillars of the ACORN Family.”
by Don Loos
For one of Big Labor’s most notorious organizing partners, ACORN, the “chickens have come home to roost” thanks to the James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles continuously unfolding ACORN exposé. If you rely on MSNBC for your news, you may not have noticed ACORN’s very thin “community organizer” veneer being sanded away exposing the rotten termite-infested wood underneath.
Part of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now’s (ACORN) rotten core includes a very cozy relationship with Big Labor. In fact, in many instances ACORN and Big Labor are one and the same. In 2008, Big Labor funneled ACORN millions of dollars for so-called organizing activity. But, that is only the tip of the Big Labor iceberg.
ACORN controls or significantly dominates several Big Labor unions and organizations. ACORN created and controls SEIU 100 (Gulf Region) and SEIU 880 (a recently expanded SEIU mega-local that covers Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas).
ACORN founder S. Wade Rathke referred to mega-union SEIU 880 as “one of the pillars of the ACORN Family.”
Read the rest Big Government
For one of Big Labor’s most notorious organizing partners, ACORN, the “chickens have come home to roost” thanks to the James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles continuously unfolding ACORN exposé. If you rely on MSNBC for your news, you may not have noticed ACORN’s very thin “community organizer” veneer being sanded away exposing the rotten termite-infested wood underneath.
Part of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now’s (ACORN) rotten core includes a very cozy relationship with Big Labor. In fact, in many instances ACORN and Big Labor are one and the same. In 2008, Big Labor funneled ACORN millions of dollars for so-called organizing activity. But, that is only the tip of the Big Labor iceberg.
ACORN controls or significantly dominates several Big Labor unions and organizations. ACORN created and controls SEIU 100 (Gulf Region) and SEIU 880 (a recently expanded SEIU mega-local that covers Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas).
ACORN founder S. Wade Rathke referred to mega-union SEIU 880 as “one of the pillars of the ACORN Family.”
by Don Loos
For one of Big Labor’s most notorious organizing partners, ACORN, the “chickens have come home to roost” thanks to the James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles continuously unfolding ACORN exposé. If you rely on MSNBC for your news, you may not have noticed ACORN’s very thin “community organizer” veneer being sanded away exposing the rotten termite-infested wood underneath.
Part of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now’s (ACORN) rotten core includes a very cozy relationship with Big Labor. In fact, in many instances ACORN and Big Labor are one and the same. In 2008, Big Labor funneled ACORN millions of dollars for so-called organizing activity. But, that is only the tip of the Big Labor iceberg.
ACORN controls or significantly dominates several Big Labor unions and organizations. ACORN created and controls SEIU 100 (Gulf Region) and SEIU 880 (a recently expanded SEIU mega-local that covers Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas).
ACORN founder S. Wade Rathke referred to mega-union SEIU 880 as “one of the pillars of the ACORN Family.”
Read the rest Big Government
Freedom's Lighthouse: Fox News' Griff Jenkins Confronts Sen. Roland Burris on Why He Voted to Protect ACORN - Video 9/15/09
Video of Fox News' Griff Jenkins confronting Illinois Democrat Sen. Roland Burris about why he voted to protect funding for ACORN the other day. Burris was one of only seven Senators to vote for ACORN.
Freedom's Lighthouse: Fox News' Griff Jenkins Confronts Sen. Roland Burris on Why He Voted to Protect ACORN - Video 9/15/09
Freedom's Lighthouse: Fox News' Griff Jenkins Confronts Sen. Roland Burris on Why He Voted to Protect ACORN - Video 9/15/09
ACORN: Attack Videographer Caught in Manipulation and Lies
I'm just wondering... is that headline from ACORNS site a threat or a command, or a pathetic battle cry?
This "attack" is outrageous. That alone should get them investigated...
ACORN: Attack Videographer Caught in Manipulation and Lies
This "attack" is outrageous. That alone should get them investigated...
ACORN: Attack Videographer Caught in Manipulation and Lies
Sep 15, 2009
RealClearPolitics- Fables for Adults
Since It's a dog eat dog world--- a lesson to remember--
Thomas Sewell tell us the story...
RealClearPolitics - Fables for Adults
Thomas Sewell tell us the story...
RealClearPolitics - Fables for Adults
Big Government-ACORN in San Bernardino
This is a Part I of the ACORN San Bernardino exposé.
Big Government
Big Government
Big Government-ACORN office in the state of Maryland is potentially operating illegally
ACORN office in the state of Maryland is potentially operating illegally.
Big Government
Big Government
Sep 14, 2009
Sep 13, 2009
Sep 12, 2009
Sep 11, 2009
Anatomy of a Shakedown- ACORN-SEIU-OBAMA
This pretty much sums it up from top to bottom-
The Greenroom » Forum Archive » Anatomy of a Shakedown
The Greenroom » Forum Archive » Anatomy of a Shakedown
Sep 10, 2009
Burr, Hagan to discuss water contamination at Camp Lejeune
Burr, Hagan to discuss water contamination at Camp Lejeune
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 9, 2009
CAMP LEJEUNE
North Carolina's two senators plan to meet with military leaders to discuss past water contamination at Camp Lejeune.
Republican Sen. Richard Burr and Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan will meet Wednesday afternoon with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway.
Burr has proposed a bill that would grant care at a VA facility to any veteran or family member who was based at Camp Lejeune and suffers from adverse health effects.
Water was contaminated by dry cleaning solvents and other sources at the base's major family housing areas, and health officials believe as many as 1 million people may have been exposed before the wells were closed 22 years ago.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 9, 2009
CAMP LEJEUNE
North Carolina's two senators plan to meet with military leaders to discuss past water contamination at Camp Lejeune.
Republican Sen. Richard Burr and Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan will meet Wednesday afternoon with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway.
Burr has proposed a bill that would grant care at a VA facility to any veteran or family member who was based at Camp Lejeune and suffers from adverse health effects.
Water was contaminated by dry cleaning solvents and other sources at the base's major family housing areas, and health officials believe as many as 1 million people may have been exposed before the wells were closed 22 years ago.
Sep 9, 2009
Sep 6, 2009
Sep 4, 2009
The People Decide - For The People
H.R.3400
Bill Name: Empowering Patients First Act
Bill Category: Authorization
Extented Title: To provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purposes.
Bill Summary: This information is intended to be a nonpartisan summary and may not include all specifics contained in the full text of the bill. Further research may be necessary in order to make an informed decision. This bill would provide tax credits for low income individuals if they have individual health care coverage. This bill would allow for a credit of up to $2000 for the coverage of a taxpayer and up to $500 for each covered dependant. This bill would also put into place a program where the credit, instead of going directly to the taxpayer, could be paid to a health insurer in lieu of premiums paid by the taxpayer. This bill states that a person who is eligible for government sponsored health services like Medicare or Medicaid could instead elect to take a tax credit and purchase their own health care. This bill also would provide a tax deduction for costs paid for health insurance. Tax credits will also be given to small business employers who provide health insurance to their employees.
The People Decide - Non-Partisan Political Website, For The People
Bill Name: Empowering Patients First Act
Bill Category: Authorization
Extented Title: To provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purposes.
Bill Summary: This information is intended to be a nonpartisan summary and may not include all specifics contained in the full text of the bill. Further research may be necessary in order to make an informed decision. This bill would provide tax credits for low income individuals if they have individual health care coverage. This bill would allow for a credit of up to $2000 for the coverage of a taxpayer and up to $500 for each covered dependant. This bill would also put into place a program where the credit, instead of going directly to the taxpayer, could be paid to a health insurer in lieu of premiums paid by the taxpayer. This bill states that a person who is eligible for government sponsored health services like Medicare or Medicaid could instead elect to take a tax credit and purchase their own health care. This bill also would provide a tax deduction for costs paid for health insurance. Tax credits will also be given to small business employers who provide health insurance to their employees.
The People Decide - Non-Partisan Political Website, For The People
Sep 1, 2009
Aug 31, 2009
The People Decide - H.R. 3247
The People Decide - Non-Partisan Political Website, For The People
H.R.3247
Bill Name: To establish a social and behavioral sciences research program at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
Bill Category: Authorization
Extented Title: To establish a social and behavioral sciences research program at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
H.R.3247
Bill Name: To establish a social and behavioral sciences research program at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
Bill Category: Authorization
Extented Title: To establish a social and behavioral sciences research program at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
Setting boundaries for property rights
Setting boundaries for property rights
The Supreme Court will decide whether Florida ran roughshod over beachfront landholders.
The Supreme Court will decide whether Florida ran roughshod over beachfront landholders.
Aug 29, 2009
Aug 28, 2009
China's national flag to go up in White House on Sept 20
China's national flag to go up in White House on Sept 20
The national flag of the People's Republic of China (PRC) will be hoisted at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on September 20, media reported Sunday.
Chinese associations in the United States had applied to hold a ceremony in front of the US President’s residence to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of PRC.
Chen Ronghua, chairman of Fujian Association of the United States, told reporters that their application was approved not only because of the sound Sino-US relations but also because China is a responsible country.
"Many Americans admire China due to the success of last year’s Beijing Olympics," said Chen.
More than 1,000 people will attend the ceremony and the performances held after it, according to Zhao Luqun, who will direct the performances.
Zhao said the performances will demonstrate the friendship, magnanimous spirit and kindness of modern Chinese people.
The national flag of the People's Republic of China (PRC) will be hoisted at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on September 20, media reported Sunday.
Chinese associations in the United States had applied to hold a ceremony in front of the US President’s residence to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of PRC.
Chen Ronghua, chairman of Fujian Association of the United States, told reporters that their application was approved not only because of the sound Sino-US relations but also because China is a responsible country.
"Many Americans admire China due to the success of last year’s Beijing Olympics," said Chen.
More than 1,000 people will attend the ceremony and the performances held after it, according to Zhao Luqun, who will direct the performances.
Zhao said the performances will demonstrate the friendship, magnanimous spirit and kindness of modern Chinese people.
Court orders Christian child into government education
Court orders Christian child into government education
---during the process of negotiating the terms of the plan, a guardian ad litem appointed to participate concluded the girl "appeared to reflect her mother's rigidity on questions of faith" and that the girl's interests "would be best served by exposure to a public school setting" and "different points of view at a time when she must begin to critically evaluate multiple systems of belief ... in order to select, as a young adult, which of those systems will best suit her own needs."
---during the process of negotiating the terms of the plan, a guardian ad litem appointed to participate concluded the girl "appeared to reflect her mother's rigidity on questions of faith" and that the girl's interests "would be best served by exposure to a public school setting" and "different points of view at a time when she must begin to critically evaluate multiple systems of belief ... in order to select, as a young adult, which of those systems will best suit her own needs."
Aug 27, 2009
Aug 23, 2009
THE REAL REASON AMERICANS ARE ANGRY - New York Post
THE REAL REASON AMERICANS ARE ANGRY - New York Post
Americans didn't vote for big government last November. They voted for a guy who looked like he could keep his cool in the heat of battle. If Obama wants to regain that cool, he needs to rein in the power-grabbers in Washington.
Americans didn't vote for big government last November. They voted for a guy who looked like he could keep his cool in the heat of battle. If Obama wants to regain that cool, he needs to rein in the power-grabbers in Washington.
Aug 21, 2009
Patriotic Resistance
Patriotic Resistance
We asked you to help by attending your town hall meeting and we would send you the petitions to deliver personally to your members of Congress. Many of Congress have canceled their town hall meetings and aren't scheduling one on one appointments either. We can still make an impact! We need our members and or (State Directors and District Coordinators) to be willing to receive by mail thousands of petitions opposing Obamacare then you can stop by their office and deliver them to your members of Congress. We have to send a message and we still have time! Go to your State Groups page and scroll down to your Regional Coordinators name. Click on their name and inform them YOU WILL HELP!
WE THE PEOPLE MARCH ON WASHINGTON 09.12.09
We asked you to help by attending your town hall meeting and we would send you the petitions to deliver personally to your members of Congress. Many of Congress have canceled their town hall meetings and aren't scheduling one on one appointments either. We can still make an impact! We need our members and or (State Directors and District Coordinators) to be willing to receive by mail thousands of petitions opposing Obamacare then you can stop by their office and deliver them to your members of Congress. We have to send a message and we still have time! Go to your State Groups page and scroll down to your Regional Coordinators name. Click on their name and inform them YOU WILL HELP!
WE THE PEOPLE MARCH ON WASHINGTON 09.12.09
So Much for Seperation of Church and State--
So much for seperation of Church and State- ----
""health care reform is "a core ethical and moral obligation,"" says Mr. Obama to the religious leaders.
What Would Jesus Do? Ask Obama: The president's troubling use of religion to sell health care reform - Reason Magazine
""health care reform is "a core ethical and moral obligation,"" says Mr. Obama to the religious leaders.
What Would Jesus Do? Ask Obama: The president's troubling use of religion to sell health care reform - Reason Magazine
Aug 19, 2009
US unions, green groups unleash climate change campaign
Doesn't look like we will catch a break with these guys- can't rest, can't stop watching what they are doing...30 years is the timeline... details of what they will do in that time is speclative.
US unions, green groups unleash climate change campaign
US unions, green groups unleash climate change campaign
Aug 10, 2009
A Tea Party Commercial- most excellant!
Most excellant video created by a teenager for his Mom's Tea Party event. Well done, well said. I think Justin has a great future with talent like this. :) Created in an hour! Please do enjoy, it holds much truth.
Aug 8, 2009
The Lyin’, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Ha Ha Mark Steyn... thanks I enjoyed that summation of current events quite a lot!
The Community Is Restless by Mark Steyn on National Review Online
The Community Is Restless by Mark Steyn on National Review Online
For Dems, a new public enemy No. 1 -Michele Bachmann
Michele Bachmann under attack since Palin is out of their radar-
For Dems, a new public enemy No. 1 - Alex Isenstadt - POLITICO.com
"She is a bizarre news story of the month every month," said Brian Melendez, chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
"Michele Bachmann is just nuts," said Jeremy Powers, a local DFL chair in Bachmann's district. "She is just an utter embarrassment." Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25928.html#ixzz0Nc1eTHOg
"She is so principally and diametrically opposed to the core principles that we have," Donald McFarland, a Minnesota-based Democratic strategist, said of Bachmann. "She is further to the right than Attila
the Hun."
"She's the poster girl for the radical fringe element," added Brian Smoot, who served as political director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last campaign cycle. Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25928.html#ixzz0Nc1qsLRE
For Dems, a new public enemy No. 1 - Alex Isenstadt - POLITICO.com
"She is a bizarre news story of the month every month," said Brian Melendez, chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
"Michele Bachmann is just nuts," said Jeremy Powers, a local DFL chair in Bachmann's district. "She is just an utter embarrassment." Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25928.html#ixzz0Nc1eTHOg
"She is so principally and diametrically opposed to the core principles that we have," Donald McFarland, a Minnesota-based Democratic strategist, said of Bachmann. "She is further to the right than Attila
the Hun."
"She's the poster girl for the radical fringe element," added Brian Smoot, who served as political director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last campaign cycle. Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25928.html#ixzz0Nc1qsLRE
Aug 7, 2009
TheHill.com - Dodd, Conrad cleared in Countrywide probe
TheHill.com - Dodd, Conrad cleared in Countrywide probe
Just crap- then why were they VIP's? Just crap..bs!!
And why is it that the Former Amtrak Inspector General get a huge severance? http://trains4america.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/former-amtrak-inspector-general-received-handsome-severance-package-signed-non-disclosure-agreement/
Did Walpin get a severance package?
Just crap- then why were they VIP's? Just crap..bs!!
And why is it that the Former Amtrak Inspector General get a huge severance? http://trains4america.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/former-amtrak-inspector-general-received-handsome-severance-package-signed-non-disclosure-agreement/
Did Walpin get a severance package?
ModernConservative - A Conservative Manifesto
ModernConservative - Blog Alley: "A Conservative Manifesto"
Aug 6, 2009
Libertarians Respond To Obama Healthcare Press Conference
Libertarians Respond To Obama Healthcare Press Conference
WASHINGTON -- Libertarian National Committee Communications Director Donny Ferguson issued the following statement Wednesday night, in response to President Barack Obama's press conference: "Tonight's press conference by President Obama, complete with scare tactics and wildly inaccurate claims, perfectly illustrated why more and more Americans are losing faith in his promises of prosperity through government control.
Coastal Post Online Article August, 2009
Jul 31, 2009
TheHill.com - Veterans groups have ‘grave concerns’ on health bill
TheHill.com - Veterans groups have ‘grave concerns’ on health bill
--the groups state “the legislation could limit the health care choices for veterans, increase the cost of health care for veterans, deny coverage to dependent family members of veterans, and threaten the quality of health care offered to veterans through the VA health care system.”
--the groups state “the legislation could limit the health care choices for veterans, increase the cost of health care for veterans, deny coverage to dependent family members of veterans, and threaten the quality of health care offered to veterans through the VA health care system.”
Jul 30, 2009
S.1518 Water Contamination
S. 1518 To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune.
read the full bill here
read the full bill here
Bill for Lejeune Vets- Water Contamination
[111th CONGRESS Senate Bills]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access]
[DOCID: s1518is.txt]
[Introduced in Senate]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1518
To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care,
medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed
at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at
Camp Lejeune.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 27, 2009
Mr. Burr introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care,
medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed
at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at
Camp Lejeune.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act
of 2009''.
SEC. 2. HOSPITAL CARE, MEDICAL SERVICES, AND NURSING HOME CARE FOR
VETERANS STATIONED AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, WHILE
THE WATER WAS CONTAMINATED AT CAMP LEJEUNE.
(a) In General.--Section 1710(e)(1) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(F) Subject to paragraph (2), a veteran who, as a member of the
Armed Forces, was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during a
period, determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, in which the water at Camp
Lejeune was contaminated by volatile organic compounds, including known
human carcinogens and probable human carcinogens, is eligible for
hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care under subsection
(a)(2)(F) for any illness, notwithstanding that there is insufficient
medical evidence to conclude that such illness is attributable to such
contamination.''.
(b) Family Members.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 1786. Health care of family members of veterans stationed at
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was
contaminated at Camp Lejeune
``(a) In General.--A family member of a veteran described in
subparagraph (F) of section 1710(e)(1) of this title who resided at
Camp Lejeune during the period described in such subparagraph or who
was in utero during such period while the mother of such family member
resided at such location shall be eligible for hospital care, medical
services, and nursing home care furnished by the Secretary for any
condition, or any disability that is associated with such condition,
that is associated with exposure to the contaminants in the water at
Camp Lejeune during such period.
``(b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations that
specify which--
``(1) conditions are associated with exposure to the
contaminants described in subsection (a); and
``(2) disabilities are associated with such conditions.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 1785 the following new item:
``1786. Health care of family members of veterans stationed at Camp
Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water
was contaminated at Camp Lejeune.''.
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access]
[DOCID: s1518is.txt]
[Introduced in Senate]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1518
To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care,
medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed
at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at
Camp Lejeune.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 27, 2009
Mr. Burr introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care,
medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed
at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at
Camp Lejeune.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act
of 2009''.
SEC. 2. HOSPITAL CARE, MEDICAL SERVICES, AND NURSING HOME CARE FOR
VETERANS STATIONED AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, WHILE
THE WATER WAS CONTAMINATED AT CAMP LEJEUNE.
(a) In General.--Section 1710(e)(1) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(F) Subject to paragraph (2), a veteran who, as a member of the
Armed Forces, was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during a
period, determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, in which the water at Camp
Lejeune was contaminated by volatile organic compounds, including known
human carcinogens and probable human carcinogens, is eligible for
hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care under subsection
(a)(2)(F) for any illness, notwithstanding that there is insufficient
medical evidence to conclude that such illness is attributable to such
contamination.''.
(b) Family Members.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 1786. Health care of family members of veterans stationed at
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was
contaminated at Camp Lejeune
``(a) In General.--A family member of a veteran described in
subparagraph (F) of section 1710(e)(1) of this title who resided at
Camp Lejeune during the period described in such subparagraph or who
was in utero during such period while the mother of such family member
resided at such location shall be eligible for hospital care, medical
services, and nursing home care furnished by the Secretary for any
condition, or any disability that is associated with such condition,
that is associated with exposure to the contaminants in the water at
Camp Lejeune during such period.
``(b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations that
specify which--
``(1) conditions are associated with exposure to the
contaminants described in subsection (a); and
``(2) disabilities are associated with such conditions.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 1785 the following new item:
``1786. Health care of family members of veterans stationed at Camp
Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water
was contaminated at Camp Lejeune.''.
NC's Hagan backs bill on Camp Lejeune water - Charlotte, NC-
North Carolina's junior U.S. Senator Richard Burr wants to co-sponsor a bill to give Department of Veterans Affairs health care to those exposed to contaminated water at the Marines' Camp Lejeune.
Sen. Kay Hagan said in a statement Wednesday that she will also push for a Senate hearing on the issue.
NC's Hagan backs bill on Camp Lejeune water - Charlotte, NC-
More stories related to this bill:
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/july282009/burr_lejeune_7-28-09.php
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/state/nc-senator-introduces-bill-on-lejeune-water-742509.html
http://www.news14.com/content/local_news/coastal/612560/bill-to-help-those-exposed-to-toxic-wells-at-lejeune/Default.aspx
Sen. Kay Hagan said in a statement Wednesday that she will also push for a Senate hearing on the issue.
NC's Hagan backs bill on Camp Lejeune water - Charlotte, NC-
More stories related to this bill:
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/july282009/burr_lejeune_7-28-09.php
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/state/nc-senator-introduces-bill-on-lejeune-water-742509.html
http://www.news14.com/content/local_news/coastal/612560/bill-to-help-those-exposed-to-toxic-wells-at-lejeune/Default.aspx
Teachers File FEC Complaint against NEA for Illegal PAC Money Laundering Scheme
Obama's helping hands caught in the cookie jar... someone explain to me how he legally got elected!
Jul 23, 2009
Is ACORN Intentionally Structured As a Criminal Enterprise?
I had to share this! I'm reading it right now! Pass it along...
Thanks for the share Bill Proctor @ http://wesurroundthemusa.ning.com/group/florida
Someone is sniffing around the ACORN tree...and what did they find?
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Darrell Issa (CA-49), Ranking Member
Staff Report-U.S. House of Representatives
111th Congress
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
July 23, 2009
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=185bd87b-28e3-4cec-926e-65d8ed643206)
Thanks for the share Bill Proctor @ http://wesurroundthemusa.ning.com/group/florida
Someone is sniffing around the ACORN tree...and what did they find?
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Darrell Issa (CA-49), Ranking Member
Staff Report-U.S. House of Representatives
111th Congress
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
July 23, 2009
Jul 21, 2009
Paging Erin Brockovich | GOOD
Paging Erin Brockovich GOOD
No one seems to want to admit when American water isn’t safe to drink. Instead, they try to hide it.
For years, U.S. health officials have claimed that although the drinking water at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune is contaminated, it poses no danger to Marines or their families. This April, the government reversed itself, saying that its assessment of the water contained “omissions” and “inaccuracies,” and adding that a million people over the course of three decades may have been exposed to the carcinogen benzene in their water. Fifteen hundred former Lejeune Marines, some of whom are now afflicted with rare lymphomas, have filed lawsuits seeking more than $33 billion. Sadly, Lejeune is just one of the many recent poisoned-water cover-ups in American history. There are others...
No one seems to want to admit when American water isn’t safe to drink. Instead, they try to hide it.
For years, U.S. health officials have claimed that although the drinking water at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune is contaminated, it poses no danger to Marines or their families. This April, the government reversed itself, saying that its assessment of the water contained “omissions” and “inaccuracies,” and adding that a million people over the course of three decades may have been exposed to the carcinogen benzene in their water. Fifteen hundred former Lejeune Marines, some of whom are now afflicted with rare lymphomas, have filed lawsuits seeking more than $33 billion. Sadly, Lejeune is just one of the many recent poisoned-water cover-ups in American history. There are others...
Jul 20, 2009
Jul 7, 2009
Jun 29, 2009
Holy crap Batman! Will this 'change' of America ever stop?
I will surely be watching this story as it progresses-
-Blogged by Cato
Today at 9:58am
There is no official word on this yet, but according to Inside Higher Ed the Obama Administration is putting the finishing touches on a proposed “National Skills College”that will include federally designed — and owned — courses:
The funds envisioned for open courses — $50 million a year — may be small in comparison to the other ideas being discussed. But in proposing that the federal government pay for (and own) courses that would be free for all, as well as setting up a system to assess learning in those courses, and creating a “National Skills College” to coordinate these efforts, the plan could be significant far beyond its dollars.
Darn rightit couldbe significant! Washington would for all intents and purposes be on the way to creating a federal university, and not one like the service academies that is constitutionally justifiable underfederal defense powers. No, this one would be completely and utterly unconstitutional, and would unfairly compete with lots effective private — including for-profit –institutions. And, of course, there’s the little matter of how this would be paid for.
I’ll have more on this as details become available.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=906d5e30-12aa-4bae-9af5-e4a41f2c63cf)
-Blogged by Cato
Today at 9:58am
There is no official word on this yet, but according to Inside Higher Ed the Obama Administration is putting the finishing touches on a proposed “National Skills College”that will include federally designed — and owned — courses:
The funds envisioned for open courses — $50 million a year — may be small in comparison to the other ideas being discussed. But in proposing that the federal government pay for (and own) courses that would be free for all, as well as setting up a system to assess learning in those courses, and creating a “National Skills College” to coordinate these efforts, the plan could be significant far beyond its dollars.
Darn rightit couldbe significant! Washington would for all intents and purposes be on the way to creating a federal university, and not one like the service academies that is constitutionally justifiable underfederal defense powers. No, this one would be completely and utterly unconstitutional, and would unfairly compete with lots effective private — including for-profit –institutions. And, of course, there’s the little matter of how this would be paid for.
I’ll have more on this as details become available.
Jun 27, 2009
Jun 25, 2009
The TCE Blog - Scientists speak out on CL Report: Disappointed, Dismayed, Disagree; Should Not Stand as Final Word (NC)
The TCE Blog - Scientists speak out on CL Report: Disappointed, Dismayed, Disagree; Should Not Stand as Final Word (NC)
Statement in response to National Research Council report on Camp Lejeune:We are disappointed and dismayed at the report titled, “Contaminated Water Supplies at Camp Lejeune – Assessing Potential Health Effects,” released by the National Research Council (NRC) on Saturday, June 13, 2009. This report was two years in preparation by scientists, many of whom we know and respect, that reached puzzling and in some cases erroneous conclusions. continue
Statement in response to National Research Council report on Camp Lejeune:We are disappointed and dismayed at the report titled, “Contaminated Water Supplies at Camp Lejeune – Assessing Potential Health Effects,” released by the National Research Council (NRC) on Saturday, June 13, 2009. This report was two years in preparation by scientists, many of whom we know and respect, that reached puzzling and in some cases erroneous conclusions. continue
Jun 24, 2009
Lejeune Water Survivors- Email from USMC
Mousedroppings- 6/24/09
Dear Registrant:
On June 13, 2009, a committee of the National Research Council (NRC) released a report on its independent review of the available scientific and medical information to determine whether adverse health outcomes are associated with past contamination of the water supply at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina prior to 1987. The report assesses the strength of evidence associating exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water to adverse health effects in prenatal children, children, and adults.
To download the "Report in Brief," view the full report, or to download a free copy of the executive summary, please visit the National Academies website. Additionally, on April 28, 2009, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) announced that they were removing the 1997 Public Health Assessment (PHA) for Camp Lejeune from their website.
According to ATSDR, the PHA should have mentioned benzene contamination and stated the extent of exposure to benzene was unknown.
ATSDR is currently conducting water modeling as part of an ongoing study to determine if past exposure to VOCs from contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune is associated with certain birth defects and childhood cancers. After the water modeling for this study is complete, ATSDR will re-analyze and update the PHA. Persons interested in reading the 1997 PHA may request a printed copy by contacting the ATSDR Records Center at (770) 488-0707 or by email.
The Marine Corps is dedicated to taking care of our Marines, Sailors, civilians and their families. Thank you again for your service to our Nation.
Dear Registrant:
On June 13, 2009, a committee of the National Research Council (NRC) released a report on its independent review of the available scientific and medical information to determine whether adverse health outcomes are associated with past contamination of the water supply at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina prior to 1987. The report assesses the strength of evidence associating exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water to adverse health effects in prenatal children, children, and adults.
To download the "Report in Brief," view the full report, or to download a free copy of the executive summary, please visit the National Academies website. Additionally, on April 28, 2009, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) announced that they were removing the 1997 Public Health Assessment (PHA) for Camp Lejeune from their website.
According to ATSDR, the PHA should have mentioned benzene contamination and stated the extent of exposure to benzene was unknown.
ATSDR is currently conducting water modeling as part of an ongoing study to determine if past exposure to VOCs from contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune is associated with certain birth defects and childhood cancers. After the water modeling for this study is complete, ATSDR will re-analyze and update the PHA. Persons interested in reading the 1997 PHA may request a printed copy by contacting the ATSDR Records Center at (770) 488-0707 or by email.
The Marine Corps is dedicated to taking care of our Marines, Sailors, civilians and their families. Thank you again for your service to our Nation.
Jun 22, 2009
Only in America
I found this posting on Michele Bachmann's story, posted below on ACORN, I wanted to share her thoughts with you since it rings so very true.
Monday, June, 22, 2009 4:10 PM
Ronna writes:
Only In America
ONLY IN AMERICA..WE SPEND BILLIONS BECAUSE WE CAN'T LET GM AND CHRYSLER GO BANKRUPT, AND THEN, LET GM and CHRYSLER GO BANKRUPT.
ONLY IN AMERICA..CAN CONGRESS FORCE FANNIE AND FREDDIE TO BUY SUBPRIME LOANS, AND THEN BLAME FANNIE AND FREDDIE FOR BUYING SUBPRIME LOANS. THEN FIRE THE CEO's WITH GIANT SEVERENCE PACKAGES AND NATIONALIZE THE COMPANIES SO THE TAX PAYERS CAN PAY OFF ALL THE DEBT!!
ONLY IN AMERICA..A FINANCIAL CRISIS REQUIRES SWIFT ACTION BY CONGRESS TO PASS A BILL WITHOUT READING IT, THEN THEY GO ON VACATION FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE THE PRESIDENT FINDS THE TIME TO SIGN IT.
ONLY IN AMERICA..YOU CAN BE LEGALLY ILLEGAL.
ONLY IN AMERICA..CAN CONGRESS MAKE LAWS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO, OR INTEND TO, FOLLOW.
ONLY IN AMERICA..THE VICE PRESIDENT DECLARES 'JOBS' A 3 LETTER WORD. ONLY IN AMERICA.... CAN YOU GET A TAX REFUND FOR TAXES YOU DIDN'T PAY.
ONLY IN AMERICA.... CAN POLITICIANS BLAME OTHERS FOR THEIR OWN FAILURES..
ONLY IN AMERICA..... YOU HAVE MORE RIGHTS BEING ILLEGAL, THAN YOU DO IF YOU'RE LEGAL
ONLY IN AMERICA.... CAN YOU BE 13 AND HAVE AN ABORTION WITHOUT TELLING YOUR PARENTS, BUT YOU MUST HAVE A WRITTEN NOTE FROM YOUR PARENT EXPLAINING WHY YOU MISSED SCHOOL.
ONLY IN AMERICA..DO WE WORRY ABOUT 3 GUYS THAT GET WATER UP THEIR NOSES, WHILE THEIR ASSOCIATES ARE BEHEADING CAPTIVES AND BLOWING UP CROWDS OF PEOPLE WITH SUICIDE BOMBERS.
ONLY IN AMERICA..YOU CAN BE PRESIDENT WITHOUT HAVING A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
ONLY IN AMERICA..... WHATEVER GOES WRONG WILL ALWAYS BE PRESIDENT BUSH'S FAULT.
Monday, June, 22, 2009 4:10 PM
Ronna writes:
Only In America
ONLY IN AMERICA..WE SPEND BILLIONS BECAUSE WE CAN'T LET GM AND CHRYSLER GO BANKRUPT, AND THEN, LET GM and CHRYSLER GO BANKRUPT.
ONLY IN AMERICA..CAN CONGRESS FORCE FANNIE AND FREDDIE TO BUY SUBPRIME LOANS, AND THEN BLAME FANNIE AND FREDDIE FOR BUYING SUBPRIME LOANS. THEN FIRE THE CEO's WITH GIANT SEVERENCE PACKAGES AND NATIONALIZE THE COMPANIES SO THE TAX PAYERS CAN PAY OFF ALL THE DEBT!!
ONLY IN AMERICA..A FINANCIAL CRISIS REQUIRES SWIFT ACTION BY CONGRESS TO PASS A BILL WITHOUT READING IT, THEN THEY GO ON VACATION FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE THE PRESIDENT FINDS THE TIME TO SIGN IT.
ONLY IN AMERICA..YOU CAN BE LEGALLY ILLEGAL.
ONLY IN AMERICA..CAN CONGRESS MAKE LAWS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO, OR INTEND TO, FOLLOW.
ONLY IN AMERICA..THE VICE PRESIDENT DECLARES 'JOBS' A 3 LETTER WORD. ONLY IN AMERICA.... CAN YOU GET A TAX REFUND FOR TAXES YOU DIDN'T PAY.
ONLY IN AMERICA.... CAN POLITICIANS BLAME OTHERS FOR THEIR OWN FAILURES..
ONLY IN AMERICA..... YOU HAVE MORE RIGHTS BEING ILLEGAL, THAN YOU DO IF YOU'RE LEGAL
ONLY IN AMERICA.... CAN YOU BE 13 AND HAVE AN ABORTION WITHOUT TELLING YOUR PARENTS, BUT YOU MUST HAVE A WRITTEN NOTE FROM YOUR PARENT EXPLAINING WHY YOU MISSED SCHOOL.
ONLY IN AMERICA..DO WE WORRY ABOUT 3 GUYS THAT GET WATER UP THEIR NOSES, WHILE THEIR ASSOCIATES ARE BEHEADING CAPTIVES AND BLOWING UP CROWDS OF PEOPLE WITH SUICIDE BOMBERS.
ONLY IN AMERICA..YOU CAN BE PRESIDENT WITHOUT HAVING A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
ONLY IN AMERICA..... WHATEVER GOES WRONG WILL ALWAYS BE PRESIDENT BUSH'S FAULT.
ACORN By Any Other Name Is Still ACORN
ACORN International, which works in 12 countries across the world, has switched their name to "Community Organizations International."
Townhall.com Blog : Michele Bachmann : ACORN By Any Other Name Is Still ACORN
Townhall.com Blog : Michele Bachmann : ACORN By Any Other Name Is Still ACORN
Key events in Camp Lejeune's water contamination
Key events in Camp Lejeune's water contamination San Francisco Examiner
By: The Associated Press
Associated Press
06/20/09 5:20 PM PDT
Key events in the investigation of contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
_October 1980: Tests through March 1981 show water at the Hadnot Point treatment plant is "highly contaminated" with chlorinated hydrocarbons. A lab chemist urges further analysis. Officials do not test individual wells to find the contamination source.
_May and July 1982: Tests identify TCE and PCE as contaminants in water systems for Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace, which served housing, schools, other buildings and swimming pools at Camp Lejeune.
_July 1984: The base begins testing individual wells and by February 1985 shuts down 10 contaminated wells. One drinking water sample measured 1,400 parts per billion of TCE. The U.S. government eventually set 5 parts per billion as the maximum safe level for TCE at the tap.
_January 1985: A fuel spill closes a clean water system. Homes and a school are connected on an emergency basis to the Hadnot Point system for 12 days. They receive contaminated water.
_March through April 1985: A contaminated well that had been shut down is turned on to pump water to residents on four nights to ease a temporary water shortage.
_April 1985: The base commander, Maj. Gen. L.H. Buehl, urges families in Tarawa Terrace to conserve water. He says wells were closed as a precaution over "minute" amounts of organic chemicals. He does not mention that contamination exceeded maximum recommended exposure limits several times over.
_March 1987: The water treatment system for Tarawa Terrace is shut down and homes are connected to a new water treatment plant.
_October 1989: Camp Lejeune is added to the Superfund list of the nation's highly contaminated hazardous waste sites.
_August 1997: The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry concludes that adults had little or no increased cancer risk from the past contaminated water, but raised concern about effects on developing fetuses. It recommended studies on the fetal effects.
_August 1998: The health agency finds a link between toxic water and low birth-weight babies born to some women at Camp Lejeune during the years of contamination. The study undercounts mothers who were exposed because it assumes a clean treatment plant provided water for four years before it was constructed.
_1999: The health agency begins searching for leukemia cases and birth defects among babies who were in utero at the base from 1968, when birth records first were computerized, until 1985, when contaminated wells were believed to have been shut down.
_2003: The health agency begins to study whether Camp Lejeune's contaminated water is linked to birth defects and elevated leukemia rates in its survey of 12,600 children.
_October 2004: An outside panel convened by the Marines determines that Camp Lejeune did not understand the significance of its water contamination early on and that Navy environmental advisers were "not aggressive" in assisting them. However, the panel concludes that Marine leadership acted responsibly and provided water quality consistent with general practices at the time.
_April 2005: Criminal investigators from the Environmental Protection Agency find no illegal actions or cover-up in Camp Lejeune's handling of its water contamination. The Justice Department declines to prosecute.
_June 2007: House Energy and Commerce Committee hears testimony from what it calls "poisoned patriots," families who blame their cancers on Camp Lejeune water.
_ October 2007: The Senate directs the military to find former Camp Lejeune residents and workers and notify them they may have been exposed to contaminated drinking water.
_June 2008: The federal health agency concludes it is feasible to do cancer and mortality studies of adults who were exposed to the tainted water. The agency is laying groundwork for the studies while completing its study of fetal health effects.
_April 28, 2009: The health agency withdraws its 1997 public health assessment, stating it contains omissions and inaccuracies.
___
Sources: Marine Corps chronology, Environmental Protection Agency, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Marine Corps documents.
By: The Associated Press
Associated Press
06/20/09 5:20 PM PDT
Key events in the investigation of contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
_October 1980: Tests through March 1981 show water at the Hadnot Point treatment plant is "highly contaminated" with chlorinated hydrocarbons. A lab chemist urges further analysis. Officials do not test individual wells to find the contamination source.
_May and July 1982: Tests identify TCE and PCE as contaminants in water systems for Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace, which served housing, schools, other buildings and swimming pools at Camp Lejeune.
_July 1984: The base begins testing individual wells and by February 1985 shuts down 10 contaminated wells. One drinking water sample measured 1,400 parts per billion of TCE. The U.S. government eventually set 5 parts per billion as the maximum safe level for TCE at the tap.
_January 1985: A fuel spill closes a clean water system. Homes and a school are connected on an emergency basis to the Hadnot Point system for 12 days. They receive contaminated water.
_March through April 1985: A contaminated well that had been shut down is turned on to pump water to residents on four nights to ease a temporary water shortage.
_April 1985: The base commander, Maj. Gen. L.H. Buehl, urges families in Tarawa Terrace to conserve water. He says wells were closed as a precaution over "minute" amounts of organic chemicals. He does not mention that contamination exceeded maximum recommended exposure limits several times over.
_March 1987: The water treatment system for Tarawa Terrace is shut down and homes are connected to a new water treatment plant.
_October 1989: Camp Lejeune is added to the Superfund list of the nation's highly contaminated hazardous waste sites.
_August 1997: The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry concludes that adults had little or no increased cancer risk from the past contaminated water, but raised concern about effects on developing fetuses. It recommended studies on the fetal effects.
_August 1998: The health agency finds a link between toxic water and low birth-weight babies born to some women at Camp Lejeune during the years of contamination. The study undercounts mothers who were exposed because it assumes a clean treatment plant provided water for four years before it was constructed.
_1999: The health agency begins searching for leukemia cases and birth defects among babies who were in utero at the base from 1968, when birth records first were computerized, until 1985, when contaminated wells were believed to have been shut down.
_2003: The health agency begins to study whether Camp Lejeune's contaminated water is linked to birth defects and elevated leukemia rates in its survey of 12,600 children.
_October 2004: An outside panel convened by the Marines determines that Camp Lejeune did not understand the significance of its water contamination early on and that Navy environmental advisers were "not aggressive" in assisting them. However, the panel concludes that Marine leadership acted responsibly and provided water quality consistent with general practices at the time.
_April 2005: Criminal investigators from the Environmental Protection Agency find no illegal actions or cover-up in Camp Lejeune's handling of its water contamination. The Justice Department declines to prosecute.
_June 2007: House Energy and Commerce Committee hears testimony from what it calls "poisoned patriots," families who blame their cancers on Camp Lejeune water.
_ October 2007: The Senate directs the military to find former Camp Lejeune residents and workers and notify them they may have been exposed to contaminated drinking water.
_June 2008: The federal health agency concludes it is feasible to do cancer and mortality studies of adults who were exposed to the tainted water. The agency is laying groundwork for the studies while completing its study of fetal health effects.
_April 28, 2009: The health agency withdraws its 1997 public health assessment, stating it contains omissions and inaccuracies.
___
Sources: Marine Corps chronology, Environmental Protection Agency, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Marine Corps documents.
Jun 20, 2009
Lejeune water issue isn't over : Greensboro
Editorial: Lejeune water issue isn't over : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis
The recently released report on whether links exist between tainted drinking water at Camp Lejeune and health problems experienced by Marines and dependents living there years ago raises more questions than it answers.
According to National Research Council investigators, too much time has passed to draw accurate conclusions. Although the report didn't rule out a connection, it says spotty and incomplete data make it unlikely.
At issue is whether chemical solvents that infiltrated wells at the Jacksonville base caused sickness that showed up years later. At risk were schools, a hospital, barracks and dependent housing before the system closed 22 years ago.
More than 1,500 claims seeking $33.9 million already have been filed by ex-residents alleging a variety of health issues, including birth defects.
Further research, the report concludes, won't shed much more light and it suggested that the Department of the Navy proceed accordingly.
Yet that may not be the last word. Our state's U.S. senators, Republican Richard Burr and Democrat Kay Hagan, are unhappy with the results.
They want answers and should be able to get them. Both serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee while Burr is the ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee.
Marines who honorably served their country, and their families, deserve closure. It's a cop-out to say all of this is just too complicated to decipher. The stakes are deceptively high, considering 1 million people may have been exposed to these toxic contaminants.
It's worth noting that relief through the courts is unlikely. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a lawsuit blaming tainted base water for an illness, saying the suspected solvents at the time weren't regulated as dangerous substances.
And the Department of Veterans Affairs has a record of denying medical benefits to Marines who believe drinking and bathing in the water made them sick.
So, a Senate hearing may be their best hope for relief. Burr and Hagan can and should make that happen.
The recently released report on whether links exist between tainted drinking water at Camp Lejeune and health problems experienced by Marines and dependents living there years ago raises more questions than it answers.
According to National Research Council investigators, too much time has passed to draw accurate conclusions. Although the report didn't rule out a connection, it says spotty and incomplete data make it unlikely.
At issue is whether chemical solvents that infiltrated wells at the Jacksonville base caused sickness that showed up years later. At risk were schools, a hospital, barracks and dependent housing before the system closed 22 years ago.
More than 1,500 claims seeking $33.9 million already have been filed by ex-residents alleging a variety of health issues, including birth defects.
Further research, the report concludes, won't shed much more light and it suggested that the Department of the Navy proceed accordingly.
Yet that may not be the last word. Our state's U.S. senators, Republican Richard Burr and Democrat Kay Hagan, are unhappy with the results.
They want answers and should be able to get them. Both serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee while Burr is the ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee.
Marines who honorably served their country, and their families, deserve closure. It's a cop-out to say all of this is just too complicated to decipher. The stakes are deceptively high, considering 1 million people may have been exposed to these toxic contaminants.
It's worth noting that relief through the courts is unlikely. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a lawsuit blaming tainted base water for an illness, saying the suspected solvents at the time weren't regulated as dangerous substances.
And the Department of Veterans Affairs has a record of denying medical benefits to Marines who believe drinking and bathing in the water made them sick.
So, a Senate hearing may be their best hope for relief. Burr and Hagan can and should make that happen.
Jun 18, 2009
Burr Presses on Camp Lejeune Water Contamination at Hearing - Salem-News.Com
Burr Presses on Camp Lejeune Water Contamination at Hearing - Salem-News.Com
Burr said. “Former Marines, their families, and former employees at Camp Lejeune have waited far too long for answers, and we need to start working toward a resolution.
Thank you Senator Burr!
Burr said. “Former Marines, their families, and former employees at Camp Lejeune have waited far too long for answers, and we need to start working toward a resolution.
Thank you Senator Burr!
Jun 17, 2009
The Associated Press: Court refuses to hear suit over Camp Lejeune water
The Associated Press: Court refuses to hear suit over Camp Lejeune water
Jun 8, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court refused Monday to hear a Marine's lawsuit blaming the government's dumping of toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for his son's illnesses.
The high court declined to hear an appeal by Donal McLean Snyder Jr. of a lower courts' dismissal of his lawsuit.
A Marine Corps spokesman had no immediate comment on the legal ramifications of the ruling, but said the corps is concerned about the water situation.
Health officials think that as many as 1 million people may have been exposed to water toxins over a span of about three decades before the wells were closed 22 years ago.
Jun 8, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court refused Monday to hear a Marine's lawsuit blaming the government's dumping of toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for his son's illnesses.
The high court declined to hear an appeal by Donal McLean Snyder Jr. of a lower courts' dismissal of his lawsuit.
A Marine Corps spokesman had no immediate comment on the legal ramifications of the ruling, but said the corps is concerned about the water situation.
Health officials think that as many as 1 million people may have been exposed to water toxins over a span of about three decades before the wells were closed 22 years ago.
Jun 16, 2009
HAGAN WANTS A CONCLUSION TO THE ONGOING CAMP LEJEUNE WATER CONTAMINATION ISSUE
HAGAN WANTS A CONCLUSION TO THE ONGOING CAMP LEJEUNE WATER CONTAMINATION ISSUE Kay Hagan U.S. Senator for North Carolina
"The NAS study released Saturday is simply a review of previous scientific literature on hydrocarbon solvents, reports on Camp Lejeune water contamination, and published epidemiologic and toxicological studies," said Hagan. "However, it failed to take into account the conclusions of previous epidemiological studies that found an association between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exposures and childhood leukemia, and presents some direct contradictions to the EPA's maximum containment levels of VOCs in drinking water. Moreover, the NAS study barely mentioned benzene and vinyl chloride and severely downplays the established links between adverse health effects and exposure to VOCs that were present in the water at Camp Lejeune. For these reasons, I cannot stand behind the validity of the NAS study. Former personnel and residents of Camp Lejeune need closure on this issue and one way to help facilitate that is through a hearing in the Armed Services Committee."
The NAS study neglected to address key historical documents, also omitted in previous studies, regarding verified high levels of benzene found in an operating well on July 6, 1984 in the Hadnot Point water system and the 1979 leak of 20,000-30,000 of fuel at the near-by Hadnot Point fuel farm.
"The resolution of this issue cannot be held hostage to additional scientific studies that may not tell us anything more than we already know. The time has come for Congress, the Department of the Navy, and the Marine Corps to work together to develop a plan to resolve the longstanding issue of water contamination at Camp Lejeune. We already know that exposure to VOCs in drinking water is linked to adverse health effects," Hagan continued. "While it is important that we allow the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to complete its water modeling simulation and pending epidemiological studies for personnel and residents affected at Camp Lejeune, ongoing work on these simulations and studies need not foreclose action by Congress and the administration to reach an appropriate resolution."
Last week, Hagan sent a letter to the Navy along with Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) asking 14 detailed questions to determine if there was prior knowledge of TCE (trichloroethylene), PCE (perchloroethylene), benzene, and vinyl chloride in the water supply before the wells were shut down. The Navy and Marines Corps have until June 25th to respond. Hagan and Burr plan to meet with the Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to address these questions and the conclusions of the NAS study before August.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
"The NAS study released Saturday is simply a review of previous scientific literature on hydrocarbon solvents, reports on Camp Lejeune water contamination, and published epidemiologic and toxicological studies," said Hagan. "However, it failed to take into account the conclusions of previous epidemiological studies that found an association between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exposures and childhood leukemia, and presents some direct contradictions to the EPA's maximum containment levels of VOCs in drinking water. Moreover, the NAS study barely mentioned benzene and vinyl chloride and severely downplays the established links between adverse health effects and exposure to VOCs that were present in the water at Camp Lejeune. For these reasons, I cannot stand behind the validity of the NAS study. Former personnel and residents of Camp Lejeune need closure on this issue and one way to help facilitate that is through a hearing in the Armed Services Committee."
The NAS study neglected to address key historical documents, also omitted in previous studies, regarding verified high levels of benzene found in an operating well on July 6, 1984 in the Hadnot Point water system and the 1979 leak of 20,000-30,000 of fuel at the near-by Hadnot Point fuel farm.
"The resolution of this issue cannot be held hostage to additional scientific studies that may not tell us anything more than we already know. The time has come for Congress, the Department of the Navy, and the Marine Corps to work together to develop a plan to resolve the longstanding issue of water contamination at Camp Lejeune. We already know that exposure to VOCs in drinking water is linked to adverse health effects," Hagan continued. "While it is important that we allow the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to complete its water modeling simulation and pending epidemiological studies for personnel and residents affected at Camp Lejeune, ongoing work on these simulations and studies need not foreclose action by Congress and the administration to reach an appropriate resolution."
Last week, Hagan sent a letter to the Navy along with Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) asking 14 detailed questions to determine if there was prior knowledge of TCE (trichloroethylene), PCE (perchloroethylene), benzene, and vinyl chloride in the water supply before the wells were shut down. The Navy and Marines Corps have until June 25th to respond. Hagan and Burr plan to meet with the Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to address these questions and the conclusions of the NAS study before August.
IMF Funding-being debated now on house floor.. call and say NO!
HOUSE Of Representatives SWITCHBOARD 202.224.3121 -- They want five billion in FUNDING FOR THE IMF (that is an international bailout people)... although I am sure some of this and most of the other money will end up in the hands of our enemies... speaking of...they STILL want to show those damned photos. SAY NO...call and say NO! NO! NO! STOP THIS SPENDING!
It is being debated right now on the house floor.
The ACLU should be held liable for wanting those pictures open to the public. Liable for every bruise and scrape that America's citizens suffer if those pictures are released. It is obvious to me that the ACLU could care less about the safety and security of our troops or this country.
I am so sick of these organizations sticking their stuff shirts in our lives.
Vote 2010--incumbents out--Patriots in!
It is being debated right now on the house floor.
The ACLU should be held liable for wanting those pictures open to the public. Liable for every bruise and scrape that America's citizens suffer if those pictures are released. It is obvious to me that the ACLU could care less about the safety and security of our troops or this country.
I am so sick of these organizations sticking their stuff shirts in our lives.
Vote 2010--incumbents out--Patriots in!
The Letter- A Patriots Open Letter to Washington
Today on the Glenn Beck radio show, which I missed, he read an open letter from a 53 year old (homegrown American citizen) in Arizona. I wish I knew who she was because I would surely write her a thank you note. Hey Glenn, add my name to your note will you? Thanks!
In her letter she points out all the horrors of getting laws and regulations shoved down our throats and how the taxpayers (that be us) are being pillaged by the likes of ACORN and the many organizations affiliated with them, as well as other organizations who seem to think they need our American dollars to take away more of our American liberty.
He hits upon the core belief for most of the Patriots of this country... we entrusted you to uphold our Constitution. Do it already!
Every word of her letter I have thought and believe totally. Everyday that goes by I see our government abusing their powers. Firing an Attorney General? For what reason? Surely he wasn't taking money under the table or maybe he was fired for tax evasion or the likes? Oh that can't be it, I forgot we have one of those in the treasury already and a few in congress.
Argh! Enough of this crap already!
We are coming... we are oh so coming to take our nation back. Be afraid Washington, be very afraid for your jobs and be happy to get away with your life, cause personally, y'all belong in prison for the remainder your lying, scheming, treasonous lives.
This letter is the best thing I've read in months... share it.. send it along...thanks Glenn!
You can read the full content of the letter here: Glenn Beck : The Letter
And as always- Vote 2010--incumbents out--Patriots in!
In her letter she points out all the horrors of getting laws and regulations shoved down our throats and how the taxpayers (that be us) are being pillaged by the likes of ACORN and the many organizations affiliated with them, as well as other organizations who seem to think they need our American dollars to take away more of our American liberty.
He hits upon the core belief for most of the Patriots of this country... we entrusted you to uphold our Constitution. Do it already!
Every word of her letter I have thought and believe totally. Everyday that goes by I see our government abusing their powers. Firing an Attorney General? For what reason? Surely he wasn't taking money under the table or maybe he was fired for tax evasion or the likes? Oh that can't be it, I forgot we have one of those in the treasury already and a few in congress.
Argh! Enough of this crap already!
We are coming... we are oh so coming to take our nation back. Be afraid Washington, be very afraid for your jobs and be happy to get away with your life, cause personally, y'all belong in prison for the remainder your lying, scheming, treasonous lives.
This letter is the best thing I've read in months... share it.. send it along...thanks Glenn!
You can read the full content of the letter here: Glenn Beck : The Letter
And as always- Vote 2010--incumbents out--Patriots in!
Jun 15, 2009
Lejeune Water Survivors- A letter for your Representatives
Thanks to the hard workers at WaterSurvivors.com (THE STAND), spite personal issues, like cancer surgery, have taken the time to write a letter we all can share and send to our state representatives. Even if you are not effected directly by the contamination at Camp Lejeune, NC, you certainly know someone who is.
Send this letter along with your personal stories to as many representatives as you can.
You are not alone. There are millions of us, we just have to work together and spread the news, write letters, and keep advocating for water survivors to those who have the power to help us.
And as always- Vote 2010--incumbents out--Patriots in!
Letter To Send To Representatives Listing Our Expectations As Survivors.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WaterSurvivors.com
Outline of Expectations
1. Health Care and Compensation (at government expense) for Camp Lejeune’s sick survivors (veterans and their dependents and civilian support personnel and their dependents).
A. Health screenings, at government expense, for Camp Lejeune’s victims.
B. If health issues (as documented by a doctor or through health screenings) are found to exist in any Camp Lejeune Veteran (no matter his/her discharge status), his/her VA Claim should be accepted under VA Presumptive Disability.
In the words of the ATSDR, Vinyl Chloride “can be formed when other substances such as TCE, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene are broken down."
Vinyl Chloride causes behavioral changes in humans. Vinyl Chloride causes “sensory- motor polyneuropathy; pyramidal, extrapyramidal, and cerebellar abnormalities; neuropsychiatric symptoms such as sleep disorders, loss of libido, headaches, and irritability...”
As you can see, Vinyl Chloride causes damage to the brain. One might say that it causes traumatic brain injury. It also causes behavioral changes.
2. The men and women who served at Camp Lejeune followed orders, when they were required to clean (while wearing no protective gear) their equipment with full strength TCE. By its nature, TCE would have begun to break down into Vinyl Chloride, when used to clean the surfaces of jeeps, trucks and fork lifts which had been heated by the sun. By their devotion to duty and through no fault of their own, they were exposed to full strength TCE and its breakdown components.
By the nature of Vinyl Chloride, behavioral changes were to be expected.
In a highly structured atmosphere such as the United States Marine Corps, Vinyl Chloride induced behavioral changes are not well tolerated by superiors.
The behavioral changes exhibited by contaminated Marines are, once TCE and Vinyl Chloride are considered into the equation, the result of COMMAND FAILURE.
If illness (as documented by a doctor or through the health screenings mentioned in section 2) is found to be present in any civilian support personnel, their children or grandchildren of military personnel who were aboard Camp Lejeune, Presumptive Social Security Disability should be provided.
The medical community should be informed by the CDC that contamination at Camp Lejeune is real.
3. Medical professionals should not be allowed to refuse treatment to survivors of Camp Lejeune and places like it.
4. Qualified professionals should train doctors (at government expense) in proper treatment methods for victims of severe contamination.
5. A call center, staffed (at government expense) by trained toxicologists and other appropriate qualified experts, should be established and operated 24 hours a day seven days a week. Contact information for the call center (including a toll free phone number) should be provided to all health care professionals (the AMA, IRS, Medicare and Medicaid should help with that effort).
The call center should be accessible to all health care providers at all times, in the event that they need advise on properly treating survivors of Camp Lejeune and places like it.
The experts who staff the call center should (with one exception, Dr. Gerald LeBlanc) have no connection to the DoD, the Department of the Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the EPA, the CDC, the ATSDR (which is part of the EPA and whose Camp Lejeune budget is funded by the DoD) or the State of North Carolina.
The Poisoned Patriots of Camp Lejeune would be pleased to have Dr. LeBlanc involved with the call center.
6. Qualified experts (who have no connection to the agencies listed in section 8) should be required to end the backlog of risk assessments now bogging down the Integrated Risk Assessment System (IRIS).
According to Congressman Sensenbrenner, at the IRIS Hearing in June 2008, IRIS is assessing chemicals at a rate of 2 per year. With 70 chemicals on the list to be assessed, that is a 35 year backlog.
If a chemical were put on the IRIS list today, it would take about 35 ½ years to complete the assessment. Many more people could be contaminated in that time.
7. Bonuses for VA personnel should be (if they haven’t already been) suspended until the backlog of VA Claims is reduced and claims are paid. Shredding claims should not be an acceptable method of reducing claims.
8. Independent qualified experts (who have no connection to the agencies listed in section 8) should, at government expense, test all NEW WELLS in the nation for the presence of COCs.
If contamination is found, the home should be connected to the public water supply, if that public water supply contains fewer parts per billion of COCs than the homeowner’s water sample. Because the EPA and other government agencies which were supposed to protect the public from COCs failed to do so, municipal water system connection fees should be paid by the EPA.
If an existing well is found to be contaminated with COCs, the home should be connected (at EPA expense) to the municipal water supply, if that municipal water supply contains fewer parts per billion of COCs than the homeowner’s water sample.
9. An investigation should be launched into the agreement (concerning Camp Lejeune, North Carolina’s contamination) which was reached by the EPA, the Department of the Navy and the State of North Carolina. That investigation should determine what the agreement says and whether the agreement impacts the way the EPA, other federal agencies, state agencies and local agencies across the nation respond to contamination cases.
The fact that The Department of the Navy and the State of North Carolina involved the EPA in an agreement concerning Camp Lejeune’s COCs potentially impacts all Americans.
The EPA is a federal agency which is charged with protecting all Americans and the environment in which they live. If the agreement was not intended to influence the way the EPA responds to contamination issues (enforcement and remediation in particular), then there would have been no reason to involve the EPA in the agreement.
Is it acceptable for the State of North Carolina, the EPA and the Department of the Navy to enter into an agreement (which has the potential to influence EPA policy and remediation procedures) without consulting those who represent all Americans?
Is it possible that The Department of the Navy, the EPA and the State of North Carolina have set EPA policy which harms all Americans?
The bottom line is that all Americans have a right to know, if that agreement impacts enforcement and remediation of their contamination issues.
10. After decades of watching Camp Lejeune’s Survivors struggle with “lost” military records, “lost” studies, delayed studies, delayed funding of studies, denied claims, inaccurate information, inadequate medical treatment and generalized apathy, Congress can make a decision to pay the tort claims of Camp Lejeune’s Survivors.
11. Presumptive Disability should cover cancers (all males & females), lymphomas, tumors, skin disorders, thyroid and parathyroid disease, cysts, miscarriages, anxiety disorders, neurological, spastic colon, fibromyalgia, gastric antrial vascular estasia, adrenal cortial carcinoma, muscle deterioration, bone deterioration, kidney disease, heart disease/ cardiac, lupus, bowel disorder, teeth deterioration, reproductive disorders, ADD, ADHD, urinary disorders, learning disabilities, lung diseases, spasams, gall bladder, club foot, spinal bifida, scoliosis, diabetes, fibroid disease, parkinsons disease, anemia, migraines, endometriosis, and bladder and other numerous illnesses and diseases not mentioned which have been a common thread among the survivors of Camp Lejeune.
Send this letter along with your personal stories to as many representatives as you can.
You are not alone. There are millions of us, we just have to work together and spread the news, write letters, and keep advocating for water survivors to those who have the power to help us.
And as always- Vote 2010--incumbents out--Patriots in!
Letter To Send To Representatives Listing Our Expectations As Survivors.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WaterSurvivors.com
Outline of Expectations
1. Health Care and Compensation (at government expense) for Camp Lejeune’s sick survivors (veterans and their dependents and civilian support personnel and their dependents).
A. Health screenings, at government expense, for Camp Lejeune’s victims.
B. If health issues (as documented by a doctor or through health screenings) are found to exist in any Camp Lejeune Veteran (no matter his/her discharge status), his/her VA Claim should be accepted under VA Presumptive Disability.
In the words of the ATSDR, Vinyl Chloride “can be formed when other substances such as TCE, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene are broken down."
Vinyl Chloride causes behavioral changes in humans. Vinyl Chloride causes “sensory- motor polyneuropathy; pyramidal, extrapyramidal, and cerebellar abnormalities; neuropsychiatric symptoms such as sleep disorders, loss of libido, headaches, and irritability...”
As you can see, Vinyl Chloride causes damage to the brain. One might say that it causes traumatic brain injury. It also causes behavioral changes.
2. The men and women who served at Camp Lejeune followed orders, when they were required to clean (while wearing no protective gear) their equipment with full strength TCE. By its nature, TCE would have begun to break down into Vinyl Chloride, when used to clean the surfaces of jeeps, trucks and fork lifts which had been heated by the sun. By their devotion to duty and through no fault of their own, they were exposed to full strength TCE and its breakdown components.
By the nature of Vinyl Chloride, behavioral changes were to be expected.
In a highly structured atmosphere such as the United States Marine Corps, Vinyl Chloride induced behavioral changes are not well tolerated by superiors.
The behavioral changes exhibited by contaminated Marines are, once TCE and Vinyl Chloride are considered into the equation, the result of COMMAND FAILURE.
If illness (as documented by a doctor or through the health screenings mentioned in section 2) is found to be present in any civilian support personnel, their children or grandchildren of military personnel who were aboard Camp Lejeune, Presumptive Social Security Disability should be provided.
The medical community should be informed by the CDC that contamination at Camp Lejeune is real.
3. Medical professionals should not be allowed to refuse treatment to survivors of Camp Lejeune and places like it.
4. Qualified professionals should train doctors (at government expense) in proper treatment methods for victims of severe contamination.
5. A call center, staffed (at government expense) by trained toxicologists and other appropriate qualified experts, should be established and operated 24 hours a day seven days a week. Contact information for the call center (including a toll free phone number) should be provided to all health care professionals (the AMA, IRS, Medicare and Medicaid should help with that effort).
The call center should be accessible to all health care providers at all times, in the event that they need advise on properly treating survivors of Camp Lejeune and places like it.
The experts who staff the call center should (with one exception, Dr. Gerald LeBlanc) have no connection to the DoD, the Department of the Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the EPA, the CDC, the ATSDR (which is part of the EPA and whose Camp Lejeune budget is funded by the DoD) or the State of North Carolina.
The Poisoned Patriots of Camp Lejeune would be pleased to have Dr. LeBlanc involved with the call center.
6. Qualified experts (who have no connection to the agencies listed in section 8) should be required to end the backlog of risk assessments now bogging down the Integrated Risk Assessment System (IRIS).
According to Congressman Sensenbrenner, at the IRIS Hearing in June 2008, IRIS is assessing chemicals at a rate of 2 per year. With 70 chemicals on the list to be assessed, that is a 35 year backlog.
If a chemical were put on the IRIS list today, it would take about 35 ½ years to complete the assessment. Many more people could be contaminated in that time.
7. Bonuses for VA personnel should be (if they haven’t already been) suspended until the backlog of VA Claims is reduced and claims are paid. Shredding claims should not be an acceptable method of reducing claims.
8. Independent qualified experts (who have no connection to the agencies listed in section 8) should, at government expense, test all NEW WELLS in the nation for the presence of COCs.
If contamination is found, the home should be connected to the public water supply, if that public water supply contains fewer parts per billion of COCs than the homeowner’s water sample. Because the EPA and other government agencies which were supposed to protect the public from COCs failed to do so, municipal water system connection fees should be paid by the EPA.
If an existing well is found to be contaminated with COCs, the home should be connected (at EPA expense) to the municipal water supply, if that municipal water supply contains fewer parts per billion of COCs than the homeowner’s water sample.
9. An investigation should be launched into the agreement (concerning Camp Lejeune, North Carolina’s contamination) which was reached by the EPA, the Department of the Navy and the State of North Carolina. That investigation should determine what the agreement says and whether the agreement impacts the way the EPA, other federal agencies, state agencies and local agencies across the nation respond to contamination cases.
The fact that The Department of the Navy and the State of North Carolina involved the EPA in an agreement concerning Camp Lejeune’s COCs potentially impacts all Americans.
The EPA is a federal agency which is charged with protecting all Americans and the environment in which they live. If the agreement was not intended to influence the way the EPA responds to contamination issues (enforcement and remediation in particular), then there would have been no reason to involve the EPA in the agreement.
Is it acceptable for the State of North Carolina, the EPA and the Department of the Navy to enter into an agreement (which has the potential to influence EPA policy and remediation procedures) without consulting those who represent all Americans?
Is it possible that The Department of the Navy, the EPA and the State of North Carolina have set EPA policy which harms all Americans?
The bottom line is that all Americans have a right to know, if that agreement impacts enforcement and remediation of their contamination issues.
10. After decades of watching Camp Lejeune’s Survivors struggle with “lost” military records, “lost” studies, delayed studies, delayed funding of studies, denied claims, inaccurate information, inadequate medical treatment and generalized apathy, Congress can make a decision to pay the tort claims of Camp Lejeune’s Survivors.
11. Presumptive Disability should cover cancers (all males & females), lymphomas, tumors, skin disorders, thyroid and parathyroid disease, cysts, miscarriages, anxiety disorders, neurological, spastic colon, fibromyalgia, gastric antrial vascular estasia, adrenal cortial carcinoma, muscle deterioration, bone deterioration, kidney disease, heart disease/ cardiac, lupus, bowel disorder, teeth deterioration, reproductive disorders, ADD, ADHD, urinary disorders, learning disabilities, lung diseases, spasams, gall bladder, club foot, spinal bifida, scoliosis, diabetes, fibroid disease, parkinsons disease, anemia, migraines, endometriosis, and bladder and other numerous illnesses and diseases not mentioned which have been a common thread among the survivors of Camp Lejeune.
20/20's Glenn Beck Interview Brings High Ratings - mediabistro.com: TVNewser
20/20's Glenn Beck Interview Brings High Ratings
Friday's "20/20," featuring interviews with American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert and Fox News' Glenn Beck averaged 5.98 million Total Viewers - making it ABC's #1 show for the night. The program beat a re-run of CBS's Numb3rs, but came in second to NBC's Stanley Cup final. This was also 20/20's best performance in more than a month. If you missed John Stossel's interview with Beck, here it is in its entirety:
20/20's Glenn Beck Interview Brings High Ratings - mediabistro.com: TVNewser
Glenn Beck rocks!
If you don't know Glenn Beck, you should. He is a true American Patriot! Watch the video of the ABC video to get a glimpse of what he is all about. I watch him everyday... and listen to his radio show when I can. He speaks for me (98%), that much I can say.
Visit and join your local chapters of the THE 9-12 PROJECT to learn more about what other American Patriots are doing.
Vote 2010--incumbents out--Patriots in!
- Contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune -- Report release June 13
New Report Due Out
- Contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune -- Report release June 13
Not that they will tell us anything ... and who is it they are recommending for testing and studying?
Will it be in a form? A questionnaire that ALL of us complete or will they just pick and choose who they will consider to be part of the study.
A friend of mine went to this meeting she says: Terry Fristoe Dyer, who has been working on this issue for years says...."THEY" didn't study anybody! It wasn't even a study....it was a report and they used the same data the ATSDR used with the public health assessment that was kicked to the curb! This report will end up on the same curb when the real "EXPERTS" get hold and dissect this thing! This week should prove very interesting in the media. The over weight lady is not done singing yet!
None of us are done singing... and we are watching, and more of us are learning.
- Contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune -- Report release June 13
Not that they will tell us anything ... and who is it they are recommending for testing and studying?
Will it be in a form? A questionnaire that ALL of us complete or will they just pick and choose who they will consider to be part of the study.
A friend of mine went to this meeting she says: Terry Fristoe Dyer, who has been working on this issue for years says...."THEY" didn't study anybody! It wasn't even a study....it was a report and they used the same data the ATSDR used with the public health assessment that was kicked to the curb! This report will end up on the same curb when the real "EXPERTS" get hold and dissect this thing! This week should prove very interesting in the media. The over weight lady is not done singing yet!
None of us are done singing... and we are watching, and more of us are learning.
Jun 13, 2009
Kansas High School Teacher Fired for Being Conservative? - Vox
Kansas High School Teacher Fired for Being Conservative? - Vox
Support Free Speech in America!
Vote 2010--incumbents out--Patriots in!
Support Free Speech in America!
Vote 2010--incumbents out--Patriots in!
Jun 12, 2009
Sungevity.com offers free quotes on residential solar power on clarkhoward.com
Sungevity.com offers free quotes on residential solar power on clarkhoward.com
Jun 12, 2009 -- Sungevity.com offers free quotes on residential solar power
While much of the world has embraced alternative forms of energy, we're still playing catch-up in America.
The problem for homeowners has been figuring out how to implement technologies like solar, wind and geo-thermal. You can't exactly just call around for quotes.
That's where the power of the Internet comes in.
Sungevity.com allows you to enter your street address and get a guaranteed quote on installation of a home solar system. The assessment is done by satellite mapping, so no visit to your home is required.
In addition, there's federal and state money available as part of the stimulus law to install alternative energy at your home or business. Clark predicts this will be a real growth area for entrepreneurs who can do energy-efficient retro-fitting on homes.
Jun 12, 2009 -- Sungevity.com offers free quotes on residential solar power
While much of the world has embraced alternative forms of energy, we're still playing catch-up in America.
The problem for homeowners has been figuring out how to implement technologies like solar, wind and geo-thermal. You can't exactly just call around for quotes.
That's where the power of the Internet comes in.
Sungevity.com allows you to enter your street address and get a guaranteed quote on installation of a home solar system. The assessment is done by satellite mapping, so no visit to your home is required.
In addition, there's federal and state money available as part of the stimulus law to install alternative energy at your home or business. Clark predicts this will be a real growth area for entrepreneurs who can do energy-efficient retro-fitting on homes.
Jun 11, 2009
Trillions of reasons to audit the Federal Reserve
D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h -mousedroppings
Quote of the Day:
"We are in danger of being overwhelmed with irredeemable paper, mere paper, representing not gold nor silver; no sir, representing nothing but broken promises, bad faith, bankrupt corporations, cheated creditors and a ruined people." -- Daniel Webster (1782-1852), US Senator Source: speech in the Senate, 1833
Subject: Trillions of reasons to audit the Federal Reserve
Since last September the Federal Reserve has made $9 trillion in transactions that are not reflected on its balance sheet. This compares to $2 trillion in transactions that is reflected on the Fed's balance sheet.
What was the purpose of this $9 trillion? Who got how much, and why did they get it? No one knows. Congress doesn't know, and neither does the Inspector General charged with monitoring the Fed, as you can hear for yourself in the video embedded in a blog post by David Theroux of the Independent Institute.
Likewise, neither Congress nor the Inspector General knows anything about the profits or losses the Fed may have experienced from the $2 trillion that is reported on its balance sheet.
Add up the numbers -- the Fed has done things in your name with $11 trillion. This is only a few trillion shy of the total annual gross domestic product of the United States.
It's also several times the total annual spending of the federal government. Would it be an exaggeration to say that the Federal Reserve has become a shadow government, several times the size of the entity that's supposed to be our real government?
If we can judge by the resources involved then we would have to answer yes. The Federal Reserve seems to be disposing of more of your wealth than even your cancerous elected government does.
But apparently, neither you nor the people you elected is even allowed to know what the Fed is doing, let alone exert any control over it. This is a strong argument in favor of Congressman Ron Paul's bill to audit the Fed -- the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 (HR 1207).
There's good news in this regard. HR 1207 now has 200-cosponsors, which is 46% of the entire House of Representatives.
But there's also bad news.
The companion bill in the Senate, S. 604, has ZERO cosponsors. It seems like your Senators are asleep at the switch, or perhaps complicit in the scam. Who will watch these supposed watchmen if not you? Here's what you can do.
First, find out if your House Rep. needs to be thanked for being a cosponsor, or encouraged to become one.
* Go here http://thomas.loc.gov/
* Click on the radio button for "bill number"
* Type in HR 1207* Look for the link for cosponsors, and click on it
* See if your House Rep is listed.
Then go to DownsizeDC.org's "Audit the Fed" campaign to send a message to your Rep. and your two Senators. If your Rep. is a cosponsor then acknowledge your Rep., and thank him or her so that the Senators can see it. If not, encourage your Rep to co-sponsor HR 1207.
Either way, tell your two Senators to co-sponsor S. 604.Use your personal comments to mention the fact that neither Congress nor the Inspector General knows anything about what the Fed has done with $9 trillion in off-balance sheet transactions, or anything about the profit or loss from $2 trillion in on-balance sheet transactions.
Tell your Congressional employees that this is unacceptable, and that you will hold them personally accountable for failing to audit the Fed.
To exceed the 36,512 messages we sent last month we need to send at least 1,672 messages today.
Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army. To see how we're growing, check out the Keeping Score report below my signature.
Jim Babka
PresidentDownsizeDC.org, Inc.
KEEPING SCORE
We grew by 20 net new subscribers over the past two days, which brings us to 1,198 net new members for the year. The Downsize DC Army now stands at 25,547 -- nearly 55% of the way from 25,000 to 26,000!
YOU can make the army grow even faster by following our quick and easy instructions for personalized recruiting. We can also grow faster by doing more outreach to potential DC Downsizers. Please help us do this by starting a monthly credit card pledge -- it can be as low as $5 a month (which is just 17 cents per day).
You can start your pledge using our secure online contribution form. Please let us know if its okay to advertise your support here:
NEW MONTHLY PLEDGERS IN JUNE: Dwight E. Baker, David H. Abernathy, John Murphy, Jeremiah J Blanchard --
IN MAY: Don Matesz, Silvy Berman, David Jones, Barbara Baxter, Nancy Kovar, Ryan Ackroyd, WM Michael O'Brien, John C Houghton, James Alan Speedie, THREE unlistedOr, you could make a one-time donation. Please let us know on our secure contribution form if its okay to advertise your support here:
NEW ONE TIME DONORS IN JUNE: Edward J Krieger, Jan Berridge, FOUR unlisted -- IN MAY: Dorothy Davis, Arlene Lindstrand, Dee Clary, Joan Garro, Jennifer Tarling, Richard Linchitz, Steven Palmer, Bruce N. Liddel, Ernest P. Eusea, Chris Reulman, David Anthony, Christopher T Wagner, Thomas Sartwelle, Jr, EIGHT unlisted
D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c his the official email list of DownsizeDC.org, Inc. & Downsize DC FoundationNormally published 3 - 6 times per week. CONTRIBUTE in support of the "Educate the Powerful System" http://www.DownsizeDC.org is sponsored by DownsizeDC.org, Inc. -- a non-profit educational organization promoting the ideas of individual liberty, personal responsibility, free markets, and small government. Operations office: 1931 15th St. Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223, 202.521.1200
IF you have difficulties or inquiries, simply hit reply to this message. We're eager to help, including with requests to unsubscribe.
The Downsize DC Team would like to thank you for subscribing to the Downsizer-Dispatch, which you did by going to http://www.downsizedc.org/page/newsletter or by using our Educate the Powerful System to send a message.
You are encouraged to forward this message to friends and business associates, and permission is hereby granted to reproduce any items herein as long as attribution is provided for articles and the subscription instructions above are included.
Quote of the Day:
"We are in danger of being overwhelmed with irredeemable paper, mere paper, representing not gold nor silver; no sir, representing nothing but broken promises, bad faith, bankrupt corporations, cheated creditors and a ruined people." -- Daniel Webster (1782-1852), US Senator Source: speech in the Senate, 1833
Subject: Trillions of reasons to audit the Federal Reserve
Since last September the Federal Reserve has made $9 trillion in transactions that are not reflected on its balance sheet. This compares to $2 trillion in transactions that is reflected on the Fed's balance sheet.
What was the purpose of this $9 trillion? Who got how much, and why did they get it? No one knows. Congress doesn't know, and neither does the Inspector General charged with monitoring the Fed, as you can hear for yourself in the video embedded in a blog post by David Theroux of the Independent Institute.
Likewise, neither Congress nor the Inspector General knows anything about the profits or losses the Fed may have experienced from the $2 trillion that is reported on its balance sheet.
Add up the numbers -- the Fed has done things in your name with $11 trillion. This is only a few trillion shy of the total annual gross domestic product of the United States.
It's also several times the total annual spending of the federal government. Would it be an exaggeration to say that the Federal Reserve has become a shadow government, several times the size of the entity that's supposed to be our real government?
If we can judge by the resources involved then we would have to answer yes. The Federal Reserve seems to be disposing of more of your wealth than even your cancerous elected government does.
But apparently, neither you nor the people you elected is even allowed to know what the Fed is doing, let alone exert any control over it. This is a strong argument in favor of Congressman Ron Paul's bill to audit the Fed -- the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 (HR 1207).
There's good news in this regard. HR 1207 now has 200-cosponsors, which is 46% of the entire House of Representatives.
But there's also bad news.
The companion bill in the Senate, S. 604, has ZERO cosponsors. It seems like your Senators are asleep at the switch, or perhaps complicit in the scam. Who will watch these supposed watchmen if not you? Here's what you can do.
First, find out if your House Rep. needs to be thanked for being a cosponsor, or encouraged to become one.
* Go here http://thomas.loc.gov/
* Click on the radio button for "bill number"
* Type in HR 1207* Look for the link for cosponsors, and click on it
* See if your House Rep is listed.
Then go to DownsizeDC.org's "Audit the Fed" campaign to send a message to your Rep. and your two Senators. If your Rep. is a cosponsor then acknowledge your Rep., and thank him or her so that the Senators can see it. If not, encourage your Rep to co-sponsor HR 1207.
Either way, tell your two Senators to co-sponsor S. 604.Use your personal comments to mention the fact that neither Congress nor the Inspector General knows anything about what the Fed has done with $9 trillion in off-balance sheet transactions, or anything about the profit or loss from $2 trillion in on-balance sheet transactions.
Tell your Congressional employees that this is unacceptable, and that you will hold them personally accountable for failing to audit the Fed.
To exceed the 36,512 messages we sent last month we need to send at least 1,672 messages today.
Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army. To see how we're growing, check out the Keeping Score report below my signature.
Jim Babka
PresidentDownsizeDC.org, Inc.
KEEPING SCORE
We grew by 20 net new subscribers over the past two days, which brings us to 1,198 net new members for the year. The Downsize DC Army now stands at 25,547 -- nearly 55% of the way from 25,000 to 26,000!
YOU can make the army grow even faster by following our quick and easy instructions for personalized recruiting. We can also grow faster by doing more outreach to potential DC Downsizers. Please help us do this by starting a monthly credit card pledge -- it can be as low as $5 a month (which is just 17 cents per day).
You can start your pledge using our secure online contribution form. Please let us know if its okay to advertise your support here:
NEW MONTHLY PLEDGERS IN JUNE: Dwight E. Baker, David H. Abernathy, John Murphy, Jeremiah J Blanchard --
IN MAY: Don Matesz, Silvy Berman, David Jones, Barbara Baxter, Nancy Kovar, Ryan Ackroyd, WM Michael O'Brien, John C Houghton, James Alan Speedie, THREE unlistedOr, you could make a one-time donation. Please let us know on our secure contribution form if its okay to advertise your support here:
NEW ONE TIME DONORS IN JUNE: Edward J Krieger, Jan Berridge, FOUR unlisted -- IN MAY: Dorothy Davis, Arlene Lindstrand, Dee Clary, Joan Garro, Jennifer Tarling, Richard Linchitz, Steven Palmer, Bruce N. Liddel, Ernest P. Eusea, Chris Reulman, David Anthony, Christopher T Wagner, Thomas Sartwelle, Jr, EIGHT unlisted
D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c his the official email list of DownsizeDC.org, Inc. & Downsize DC FoundationNormally published 3 - 6 times per week. CONTRIBUTE in support of the "Educate the Powerful System" http://www.DownsizeDC.org is sponsored by DownsizeDC.org, Inc. -- a non-profit educational organization promoting the ideas of individual liberty, personal responsibility, free markets, and small government. Operations office: 1931 15th St. Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223, 202.521.1200
IF you have difficulties or inquiries, simply hit reply to this message. We're eager to help, including with requests to unsubscribe.
The Downsize DC Team would like to thank you for subscribing to the Downsizer-Dispatch, which you did by going to http://www.downsizedc.org/page/newsletter or by using our Educate the Powerful System to send a message.
You are encouraged to forward this message to friends and business associates, and permission is hereby granted to reproduce any items herein as long as attribution is provided for articles and the subscription instructions above are included.
Jun 10, 2009
Apply Pentagon contracting standards to ACORN | Washington Examiner
Apply Pentagon contracting standards to ACORN Washington Examiner
By: Examiner Editorial-06/10/09 5:40 AM EDT
U.S. Navy officials have severed ties with a defense contractor under suspicion in connection with an on-going federal investigation of fraud allegations against PMA Group (Paul Magliocchetti and Associates), a defense lobbying firm that was shut down following an FBI raid last year of its office. But the Navy would not be able to do that if Rep. Barney Frank’s logic on behalf of the Association of Community Activists for Reform Now (ACORN) were applied to defense contracts.
ACORN is being investigated for voter registration fraud in least 14 states. At the same time, a dissident group of present and former members and officials known as the ACORN8 are raising multiple questions in the media and before Congress about the organization’s internal finances. Frank says ACORN should have the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. We don’t recall hearing the Masschusetts Democrats call for the same treatment when the Pentagon barred a defense contractor suspected of wrong-doing.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has introduced the Taxpayer Protection and Anti-Fraud Act to bar the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from giving tax dollars to groups like ACORN that have been indicted for violations of state or federal laws. ACORN has received at least $53 million in federal funds since 1994 mostly through HUD, and the controversial group is eligible for over $8 billion in additional taxpayer funds under the Obama administration’s economic stimulus program. Bachmann’s bill faces bleak prospects in the House where more than 200 House members voted recently with are on record for supporting a measure introduced by Frank to assure ACORN’s ability to keep getting federal tax dollars.
Frank attached an amendment to $140 million dollar Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act last month that lowered the bar for groups under criminal investigation to receive federal funding. Only four Democrats opposed Frank’s amendment in a vote that essentially gutted an earlier amendment offered by Bachmann. Her new bill would block pending allocations from the HUD budget. “No one has right to federal funds,” she said. “We have a fiduciary responsibility as members of Congress to establish criteria by which groups can gain access to federal dollars. Federal funding is a privilege that must be earned. This in no way denies someone their due process rights in court.” The U.S. Navy and Bachmann have the right idea when it comes to setting standards. We look forward to hearing Frank explain why he applies different ones to different groups.
By: Examiner Editorial-06/10/09 5:40 AM EDT
U.S. Navy officials have severed ties with a defense contractor under suspicion in connection with an on-going federal investigation of fraud allegations against PMA Group (Paul Magliocchetti and Associates), a defense lobbying firm that was shut down following an FBI raid last year of its office. But the Navy would not be able to do that if Rep. Barney Frank’s logic on behalf of the Association of Community Activists for Reform Now (ACORN) were applied to defense contracts.
ACORN is being investigated for voter registration fraud in least 14 states. At the same time, a dissident group of present and former members and officials known as the ACORN8 are raising multiple questions in the media and before Congress about the organization’s internal finances. Frank says ACORN should have the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. We don’t recall hearing the Masschusetts Democrats call for the same treatment when the Pentagon barred a defense contractor suspected of wrong-doing.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has introduced the Taxpayer Protection and Anti-Fraud Act to bar the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from giving tax dollars to groups like ACORN that have been indicted for violations of state or federal laws. ACORN has received at least $53 million in federal funds since 1994 mostly through HUD, and the controversial group is eligible for over $8 billion in additional taxpayer funds under the Obama administration’s economic stimulus program. Bachmann’s bill faces bleak prospects in the House where more than 200 House members voted recently with are on record for supporting a measure introduced by Frank to assure ACORN’s ability to keep getting federal tax dollars.
Frank attached an amendment to $140 million dollar Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act last month that lowered the bar for groups under criminal investigation to receive federal funding. Only four Democrats opposed Frank’s amendment in a vote that essentially gutted an earlier amendment offered by Bachmann. Her new bill would block pending allocations from the HUD budget. “No one has right to federal funds,” she said. “We have a fiduciary responsibility as members of Congress to establish criteria by which groups can gain access to federal dollars. Federal funding is a privilege that must be earned. This in no way denies someone their due process rights in court.” The U.S. Navy and Bachmann have the right idea when it comes to setting standards. We look forward to hearing Frank explain why he applies different ones to different groups.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)