PARS commends Celestial for testifying on behalf of the people of Guam

TAMUNING, Guam—After over seventeen 17 years of extensive research and active lobbying with local leaders, U.S. Congress, and the Office of the President of the United States, the Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors recently celebrates a significant accomplishment in its fight to advocate for radiation exposure compensation for the people of Guam.

PARS founder and president, Robert N. Celestial has worked tirelessly to ensure that Guam is included, as “downwinders” under Pacific Test Sites, in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

Celestial provided testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary today as part of a panel along with other advocates from New Mexico, Arizona, and Idaho to discuss Senate Bill 197, also known as Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments of 2017. The Act would allow those who resided in Guam between 1946 and 1962 and who suffered from cancer or other listed radiation-related illnesses, to apply for compensation that would include free medical care and up to $150,000 from the remaining funds in the RECA Trust Fund.

Celestial, who founded PARS in 2002, has compiled compelling evidence that Guam and its inhabitants not only received exposure to ionizing radiation from nuclear fallout due to the multiple nuclear bombs testings’ in the Marshall Islands, but also due to the contamination of U.S. Naval vessels which were decontaminated in Guam’s waters off Apra Harbor and Cocos Islands Lagoon, from 1946 to 1958. Those present at the wash- down of Naval Vessels in Guam are included in RECA as onsite participants.

Excited at the culmination of the hearing, Celestial stated “I am here by the grace of God and the help of many along the way. Many of our members have passed without seeing any recognition or compensation. We will continue our efforts to honor those who have passed and to advocate for our remaining members.”

In his testimony, Celestial reminded the Judiciary Committee:

“The people of Guam were exposed to nuclear fallout from the Pacific Nuclear Testing in the Marshall Islands from 1946 to 1962 when 66 Nuclear and Hydrogen bombs were detonated. It was without their knowledge and consent that throughout those years they were exposed to ionizing radiation such as Iodine 131, Strontium 90, and Cesium 137. On July 10, 2000, Congress passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments (PL 106-245) and in September 2002, in response to a congressional mandate (PL 107-206), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) asked the National Research Council’s Board on Radiation Effects Research to convene a committee. Under congressional mandate, HRSA charged the committee to consider the issues and make recommendations, regarding three mandates which one of them being item C. “Whether other groups of people or additional geographic areas should be covered under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Program.” (2005 National Research Council).

In 2004, I was invited by Dr. Isaf Al Nabulsi Senior Director for the Board on Radiation Effects Research Committee to present oral and written testimony here in Washington D.C. at the National Academies of Science. I presented evidence and oral testimony before Dr. Preston, Dr. Evan Douple and other scientist on the BRER committee. I also included sworn statements from Navy Lt. Bert Schreiber who was the Chemical, Biological, Radiological Officer on Guam in 1952 he testified that “the Geiger counters were off the scale” in November 1952. On October 31, 1952, the first thermonuclear device, with the code name Mike, was detonated. It had a total yield of 10.4 Mt. On November 3, 1952 radiation was detected on Guam. In 2005, National Research council’s final report was published “Assessment of the Scientific Information for the Radiation Exposure screening and Education Program”. On page 200 “The committee initiated an independent assessment of the radiologic consequences related to the weapons an independent assessment of the radiologic consequences related to the weapons test in the Pacific to people living on Guam.”

This was their conclusion, “Conclusion—As a result of its analysis, the committee concludes that Guam did receive measurable fallout from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific. Residents of Guam during that period should be eligible for compensation under RECA in a way similar to that of persons considered to be downwinders.” (PR)