RONGELAP AND UTIRIK ENGAGE LEGAL COUNSEL AND FILE A CLASS ACTION
SUIT AGAINST THE U.S. GOVERYMENT.
FURTHERMORE, SINCE THE CONGRESS
OF MICRONESIA HAD THE FORESIGHT TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THIS COMMITTEE
UNTIL MARCH 1975, AND HOPEFULLY WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR
IT THIS SESSION, WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE SUCH ACTION AS WE FEEL IS
NECESSARY TO BRING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THE COURT OF WORLD OPINON, SHOULD THE U.S. COVERNMENT SOMEHOW TRY
TO AVOID ITS OBLIGATIONS.
LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT YOUR COMMITTEE HAS SPENT
NEARLY $12,000 IN TWO YEARS IN THE COURSE OF ITS WORK.
IT IS
UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE HAD TO USE TAXPAYER'S MONEY TO STUDY A
PROBLEM CREATED BY THE UNITED STATES.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN
MONEY WELL SPENT, FOR AT PRESENT THE TRUST TERRITORY IS NOW NEGOTIATING
WITH THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR P.L. 5-52
WHICH WAS ENACTED LAST YEAR, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE THE ORIGINAL
"INCONVENIENCE" PAYMENT TO THE UTIRIKESE.
IT IS THE SENSE OF THE COMMITTEE, THAT IF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND COMPENSATION ARE FOLLOWED, THE RATIONALE
FOR EXISTENCE OF THE COMMITTEE WILL CEASE.
WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY
SUCH EVENTS AS THE FORMATION OF A RONGELAP FALLOUT SURVIVORS ASSOCIATION, AND ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT FOR THESE PEOPLE FROM THE TRUST
TERRITORY ADMINISTRATION.
WE HOPE THAT EVENTUALLY ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS
WILL BE ABLE TO BE HANDLED AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND THAT IN THE FUTURE
SHOULD THIS MATTER DEMAND THE ATTENTION OF THIS CONGRISS, THAT THE
STANDING COIM{ITTEES ON HEALTH IN BOTH HOUSES, SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEAL
Oe
Tres oe eas .- *‘regres PAE a ryeteyoreCSTEHL Careereer,wets
Pe
FOTN
TT EE MTD
AITaed hE Se sway
5
‘
‘. ANmee
% oe ps
ne aye
“ ft
x Jog
are
tn: .
*
y
a“ai as” gate r
io MT.
4,
“Her we
,
a Loy sou
Yo at wy cos ae
co +
cay
‘
Moe
«
“fou
,
Ste, re
‘