Oregon Guard members to testify on toxic chemical exposure (by KBR)

[sabra]

Source: Oregon Live

Oregon National Guard soldiers who were exposed to toxic chemicals will testify to an Oregon House committee on Wednesday.

The soldiers, who were exposed to the toxic industrial compound hexavalent chromium while serving in Iraq, will speak before the House Committee on Elections, Ethics and Rules in favor of House Bill 3480, which would provide funds to Guard members who develop cancer as a result of exposure to this chemical.

In 2003, Oregon and Indiana Guard members were assigned to protect KBR employees who were rebuilding a water treatment plant in Iraq. Soldiers reportedly saw large amounts of an orange-colored dust that contained the toxic chemical on the ground, as well as on the pipes in the water treatment plant.

Three Oregon National Guard members who were exposed have already contracted cancer.

"This bill is about standing up for our soldiers and their families," state Rep. Chip Shields, D-Portland, said in a news release. "Passing this bill is a very modest recognition of their pain and sacrifice."

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/05/national_guard_soldiers_to_tes.html

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd. Someone, somewhere needs to hold KBR responsible

for all they've done. Employees raped? Soldiers electrocuted? Now soldiers poisoned?

Enough! :grr: