Whitfield Statement on Appointment of Board Members to Oversee Part E of EEOICPA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (KY-01), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, released the following statement regarding the U.S. Secretary of Labor’s announcement of the first scheduled meeting of the Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health for Part E of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA):

“The establishment of an independent advisory board to oversee Part E of EEOICPA is long overdue, but I’m thankful this day has finally come.  Congress first enacted EEOICPA in 2000 to provide compensation to the approximately 600,000 Cold War nuclear workers, including those who were employed at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.  Unfortunately, procedural inconsistencies and delays have effectively prevented workers from making EEOICPA claims and blocked access to benefits earned through service and sacrifice.  I look forward to monitoring the board’s progress so that we can provide some much-needed transparency, oversight, and accountability to the EEOICPA program.”