April 28, 2005

 

 

Honorable R. James Nicholson

Secretary

Department of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Ave., NW

Washington, DC  20420

 

Dear Mr. Secretary:

 

In the past, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has sent letters to veterans identified as being previously exposed to hazardous chemical, biological or radiological environments while on active duty and who have the potential for presumptive or related, service-connected conditions.  We have previously expressed our interest in VA providing veterans with notice of such exposure and of the potential service-connection of conditions related to that exposure.  VA has sometimes been unable to provide veterans with individual notice because of difficulties collecting lists of participants exposed to the hazardous condition.  We understand that VA is generally dependent on the Department of Defense (DoD) for providing such lists.

 

Enclosed are sealed sets of lists of names of individuals who were exposed to potentially hazardous materials while participating in tests or programs at Fort Detrick, Maryland, or Edgewood, Maryland, for the period 1954 through the present.  In many cases, the lists provide specifics regarding the exposure associated with the individual’s name and service number.  We ask VA to provide written notice to the living veterans named on these lists who may have an illness or injury related to their participation in the programs or tests managed at the two DoD facilities listed above.

 

Mr. Secretary, the limiting factor in VA’s due diligence in this arena has been its ability to secure lists of participants from the DoD.  Our proactive approach to this issue quickly yielded the enclosed lists, which we understand contain approximately 10,000 names.  We expect that you should be able to

determine address information on the living veterans through VA health and insurance records and by using VA’s authority to cross match data with the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration.

 

We ask that you provide us with a timetable for sending notice, as appropriate, to the listed individuals who you are able to determine are still alive.  I am requesting this be done no later than May, 27, 2005, and to complete the mailing of all notices no later than 120 days after that date.  Democratic Committee staff point of contact is Mr. Len Sistek, 202-225-9756. 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

LANE EVANS                                                      TED STRICKLAND

Ranking Democratic Member                                 Ranking Democratic Member

                                                                             Subcommittee on Oversight

                                                                                 and Investigations

         

Enclosures as stated