LETTER TO VICE PRESIDENT GORE
Subj: "Energy Employees Compensation Act of 2000"
Date: 5/20/00 7:36:10 AM EST
Janine L. Voner
1630 LeConte Drive
Maryville, Tennessee 37803
May 20, 2000
Vice President Albert Gore, Jr.
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Vice President Gore:
I am writing to you with much urgency and concern pertaining to the Administration's Nuclear Workers' Compensation proposal in which Cold War veterans would receive compensation for illnesses and disease caused by our exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins and being put unknowingly in harm's way. This bill, Vice President, Gore, is of the utmost importance to me as I am a 47 year old, single mother of a 16 year old daughter, and I am on Social Security Disability for Permanent and Medical reasons due to heavy metal toxicity as a result of my employment at the K-25, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant for nearly eight years.
It is time that our Administration takes a responsible and careful look at this proposal and make the only right decision as promised to us by this Administration, the Energy Secretary, and members of both the Senate and House of both parties. I realize that this proposed compensation legislation is of historical significance and is an extremely challenging issue for all involved. I myself, along with others who have worked at these DOE nuclear facilities have been placed in extremely difficult financial situations as well suffering with many serious illnesses which we face each day due to these unnecessary and harmful exposures. I can tell you that although I personally had health insurance benefits for 1999, my out-of-pocket medical expenses were almost $7,000 on an annual income of less than $30,000. As you can imagine, this is a tremendous financial strain on myself and my daughter. Vice President Gore, please promise me as a citizen of this great United States of America that you will look into this situation as it is of utmost importance and urgency that your Administration stand up and do the right thing. The Administration's proposal of $100,000 compensation can certainly not reimburse us for the many thousands of dollars in doctor and medical bills over the years. Many of us have lost our homes, our businesses and our jobs and have no where else to turn. We are uninsurable for health and life insurance and due to some of our disabilities we are unable to return to a normal job situation. I am a young, hard-working woman, Vice President Gore, and I worked very hard while employed at the K-25 Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant. I enjoyed the job and most of all the loyal and dedicated East Tennessee friends that I made while working at the plant. It is with a saddened heart that I find many of these friends I met along with myself now very sick with many life-threatenting illnesses and unable to work anymore. We all worked very hard for our country and we need your help and guidance in ensuring us that the right thing will be done in order to compensate these Cold War veterans and provide adequate health care which we so badly need.
I have worked since I was 16 years of age, and I have always been proud to be a citizen of United States of America. Vice President Gore, please allow me to retain my pride and not become bitter in my heart because this bill was not properly handled. Please assure me as my Vice President that you will do all you can to review this and do the only right thing in this situation.
I thank you for taking the time to read this letter. My daily prayers will continue and I hope that this Administration will not let us down, as we have been let down so many times in the past. It is time this is taken care of, as many of cannot financially hold on much longer.
Most Sincerely,
Janine L. Voner
1630 LeConte Drive
Maryville, Tennessee 37830
(865)984-0786