Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) applauded the passage of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation includes several priorities important to Colorado such as providing all federal employees with 12 weeks paid parental leave, key provisions to support our men and women in uniform such as a 3.1% pay raise for the military, improvements to military family housing, and a repeal of the existing law requiring military surviving spouses to forfeit all or part of their military Survivor Benefit Plan annuity (commonly known as the SPB/DIC offset). 

Important to the 7^th Congressional District is Perlmutter’s amendment on behalf of Rocky Flats workers and other Cold War patriots to improve the Energy Employees Occupational Illness and Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). It was previously included as part of the NDAA passed by the U.S. House in July and was successfully included in the final NDAA package announced this week.

Perlmutter helped create the Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health in 2015 to reduce red tape faced by workers seeking compensation for illnesses developed as a direct result of their jobs. The Advisory Board, comprised of scientists, medical professionals and former nuclear weapons workers, has improved transparency and made several recommendations to improve the administration of the program. Perlmutter’s amendment makes several adjustments to better empower the Advisory Board, improve the claims process for workers, and expand transparency at the Department of Labor. It would also reauthorize the Office of the Ombudsman which serves as a key advocate for former nuclear weapons workers, which expired in October.

“These workers risked their lives to protect our nation and helped end the Cold War. We owe these patriots the compensation and care they need and deserve as they deal with the health consequences and other side effects related to their service to our country,” said Perlmutter.

During the Cold War, approximately 600,000 Americans were employed at atomic weapons program facilities in the U.S., including thousands of workers at the former Rocky Flats plant in Colorado. Many of these workers were unknowingly exposed to radioactive and toxic substances, and as a result, developed debilitating and often terminal illnesses. These workers are due compensation and medical benefits under EEOICPA; however, the law has been riddled with procedural inconsistencies and delays, preventing workers from successfully submitting their claims and receiving their hard-earned benefits.

In addition, the FY20 NDAA also requires the Department of Defense to assess current climate vulnerabilities and develop a comprehensive risk mitigation plan. The bill importantly mandates phasing out perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFAS, in military firefighting foam, which has caused problems with contamination at places like Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The bill is expected to be passed by the U.S. Senate next week and signed into law by President Trump.

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