| Support letter for HR. 4566 The Providing Radiation Exposed Servicemembers Undisputed Medical Eligibility (PRESUME) Act. The bill would eliminate VA's current practice of requiring radiation dose estimates for veterans claiming diseases related to radiation exposure. Currently VA requires not only proof the veteran's onsite participation at a radiation risk activity but also radiation dose estimates from the Defense Reduction Agency and a medical opinion indicating the dose estimate caused the claimed presumptive disease. The DOJ Radiation Exposure Claims Act (RECA) program establishes compensation for individuals who contracted specified diseases related to atmospheric nuclear weapons development tests in the American southwest. the RECA program is available to uranium workers and miners. Radiation exposure veterans are held to a higher standard by the VA then the DOJ for civilians exposed to radiation. This unfair practice must be halted. |