COLD WAR HEROES PETITION CONGRESS TO REFORM SICK WORKER COMPENSATION PROGRAM

COLD WAR HEROES PETITION CONGRESS TO REFORM SICK WORKER COMPENSATION PROGRAM

The Alliance of Nuclear Worker Advocacy Groups

Sickened Nuclear Weapons Workers and Their Advocates Call upon the Senate HELP Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee to Hold Hearings to Investigate the Implementation of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA)


The Government Accountability Office (GAO) in March 2010 Identified Numerous Areas of Concern in the Administration of EEOICPA. The GAO Recommended that Congress Create an Independent Oversight Board and Urged Increased Transparency within the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP)

Specifically we ask the Committees to investigate, among other issues, the following:

* OWCP’s unfair denial of claims predicated on the continuing use of an incomplete and inaccurate Site Exposure Matrix and inadequate HazMap


* OWCP’s unauthorized redefining of NIOSH designated Special Exposure Cohort Classes


* The improper influence by OWCP on the decision making authority of the administrative appeals process for denied claims


* OWCP efforts to avoid public accountability to advocate groups, Congressional staff, and the media


* Investigate whether NIOSH’s contractors have a financial interest in denying Special Exposure Cohort Petitions to extend their lucrative contracts to reconstruct dose year after year

The Department of Labor has continually refused to implement any suggested reforms, either from advocates or Congressional delegations. Despite NIOSH’s willingness to begin an internal review of EEOICPA and remove former Director Larry Elliott from his position, the Department of Labor has refused to begin any parallel form of internal review or relieve OWCP Director Shelby Hallmark and DEEOIC Director Rachel Leiton of their management roles.

The continued unwillingness of Mr. Hallmark and Ms. Leiton to consider meaningful reform undermines the credibility of both Secretary Solis and President Obama's call for change.

We urge the Committee to hold hearings on these and other important issues raised in the March 2010 GAO Report regarding the administration of EEOICPA without delay after the August recess.

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