The amencment contains! in section 103 would change the present procedure where the Department of Energy performs and under the current madical surveillance, care j to One where the Secretary of the Interiar would fui the program, but could request the Department of Energy to administer it. The Department of Energy is presently conducting a program under a general authorization for (1) radiological monitoring of people and the environment of Rongelap, Utirik, Bikini, and Enewetak, and (2) providing medical care to those people who may have suffered ey of as ohresult a Om muclear weapons testing program. The medical part of the program primarily consists of quarterly examinations of the exposed people arr the stationing of a resident physician in the Marshall Islands. addition, general sick-calls are periodically held for all persons m affected atolls. Those who have norrradiation related ailments are refereed to appropriate Trust Territory medical personnel. Specialized examinations are also conducted on a periodic basis. Individuals who are diagnosed as suffering from illnesses or injuries which are likely related to radiation exposure receive comprehensive treatment umder the Energy program. Program costs in fiscal year 1979 were about $3. million, with 590 persons . under direct medical surveillance. Ihe Administration agrees that the present program should be specifically authorized, but recommends that the Department of Energy contime to administer both the medical surveillance and radiological monitoring. The Department of Energy has both the meciical and scientific expertise necessary for proper program management and conftimiity, without the administrative complexity and cost of one department contracting with another to perform the program. We also believe that the program should be fimded through Energy (in consultation with Interior and others) so that program costs are Claarly reflected as arising from this comtry's nuclear testing program, not from ouradministration of the territories. - s = .+ ewe 0 ew ere oe ee ee We, therefore, propose a substitute to.section103 thatcontains the Administration's recommended changes. --Ouxr proposed substitute would not only fully extend the Department of Energy's present program to Enewetak, but it would also give the Secretary of Enargy discretion to designate as eligible for assistance any other atoll in the Marshalls, the people of which are detarmined to be in.need of medical surveillance and care. We believe this flexibility is necessary in order to provide assistance to amy other Marshallese who may be subsequently found to have been exposed to radiation as a result of the muclear weapons testing program. . tp