Guam Senator Terlaje fighting for Agent Orange victims, participants in atomic clean-up of Enewetak
By Ken Quintanilla KUAM News - Feb 23, 2017
It's something she spent years advocating for and now as a freshman lawmaker, Senator Therese Terlaje has introduced a trio of resolutions in support of congressional measures aimed at bringing justice to veterans and victims of Guam exposed to radiation and Agent Orange.
It's a battle that's gone on for way too long and one Senator Therese Terlaje will continue to fight. "I know it's been going on for years, and I hope this is the year we can get this done," she explained.
This month the freshman lawmaker introduced three resolutions in support of congressional action but ensuring Guam is included and not forgotten in seeking justice and compensation for victims and veterans of radiation and those exposed to Agent Orange. "They're related in all three of these have to do with the health of the people of Guam and in particular two of these have to do with the health of veterans of Guam," she said.
Resolution 25 would express support of the Fighting for Orange-Stricken Territories in Eastern Regions or FOSTER Act introduced by Congressman Dennis Ross that "seeks to correct injustice, clarify the eligibility of affected veterans, and expedite the processing of veteran claims of health conditions caused by Agent Orange exposure.
She said, "So we know, that there was some spraying done at Andersen and the evidence seems to suggest that it's been done all around Guam, so it's to include this area, also in these programs already has set up that would give automatic presumptions to these veterans that they could be included and covered for their health, that presumption is when they get cancer and these illnesses, that are covered, they will get coverage immediately, so that's what we want."
Resolution 39 meanwhile would urge Congress to act on the passage of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2017 that hopefully would provide financial relief for those who fell victim of the radiation exposure from nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific.
"If this is the reason why our cancer rates are high then let's do something about this 0436 and I'm hoping that we can," Senator Terlaje said.
Resolution 40 meanwhile would advocate for the inclusion and proper compensation of veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. "We always hear that Guam has one of the highest cancer rates, and certain cancers we have the highest cancer rates, so I just think, there's not a single family on Guam that hasn't been hurt by cancer or another one of these illnesses covered by these acts 0303 and I just think whatever we can do to get faster healthcare, covered healthcare for these people, that's what I want to do. And that's what I'm here for."
Veterans on Guam were part of over 4,000 soldiers who participate in the cleanup without being told of the danger they were in from exposure to radiation. Terlaje says these resolutions build on the persistence of many on Guam including Robert Celestial, the late Dr. Chris Perez and former speakers Ben Pangelinan, Mark Forbes and Judi Won Pat and the leadership of the Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors.
