Rothman Introduces Vieques Recovery Act, Says Medicare Must Not End

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-9) recently introduced the Vieques Recovery and Development Act of 2011.

“The U.S. government must address the serious and disabling health care problems affecting the people of Vieques and this bill is the first step. These health issues were caused by more than 62 years of the U.S. bombing that island with military ordinance, which, our own government has acknowledged, created a federal superfund site that contains dozens of extremely dangerous, toxic and harmful poisons,” Rothman said in a statement. “The injustice toward the people of Vieques, Puerto Rico must end. The time for the U.S. government to right this wrong is long overdue.”

The island of Vieques is a municipality of Puerto Rico, with 10,000 residents, located eight miles east of the main island. From 1941-2003, the Navy "tested nearly every kind of munitions employed by the U.S. military, dropping millions of pounds of ordnance on Vieques," according to Rothman's office.

“Congressman Rothman and I share the same overriding goal—to help the people of Vieques, who have sacrificed so much on behalf of the United States and its national security. I am pleased to support this legislation, which seeks to provide a just and lasting solution to the health-related challenges facing the residents of La Isla Nena,” Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s representative in Washington, DC, said in a statement.

“I am proud to have had Commissioner Pierluisi join in this effort and for his passion on this issue,” Rothman said.

After over a half a century of bombings, Viequenses—as locals are known—have a 25 percent higher infant mortality rate, 30 percent higher rate of cancer, a 381 percent higher rate of hypertension, a 95 percent higher rate of cirrhosis of the liver, and a 41 percent higher rate of diabetes than those on the main island, Rothman noted. The people of Vieques are American citizens, many of whom have patriotically served in the U.S. Armed Forces, he said.

The Vieques Recovery and Development Act of 2011 "recognizes the sacrifices of Viequenses and attempts to address this injustice once and for all," Rothman said. Here are some elements of the bill:

• Constructing a hospital and toxins research center that would provide preventative care and treat illnesses prevalent on Vieques, such as cancer;
• Performing studies and providing recommendations at the research center on the existence and prevalence of toxins that impact the people and environment of Vieques;
• Establishing a federal interagency plan to ensure that Viequenses benefit from federal resources across government agencies; and
• Settling personal claims by Viequenses against the U.S. Government by setting up a compensation fund.

Rothman on Medicare

In an op-ed in Friday's Record, Rothman wrote, "At worst, the Republican plan reflects their undiminished zeal to 'shrink' government by eliminating programs most Americans rely on, including Medicare. As a result, however, this would hurt the middle class and most Americans, leaving only the rich and super-rich to be assured of a good education for their children and affordable health care for them and their children, when they retire."