Fe Proposal. Mr. Donn Gaeda then discussed the budget aspects set forth on pages 104 andII0 of the document. Thebudget proposal for the four atolls plan includes costs for a special charter ship making at least eight visits a year to the pamed four atolls. mee Discussion on the Loma Linda Proposal *. Mr. Safford, State, asked if there would be sizeable reduction of costs in the four atoll plan if the special ship could be eliminated. Dr. Hart indicated that, in time if airfields were built on all of the atolls (i.e., Rongelap and Utirik, Kili Island) air transpor- tation could be used, but there would still be mertain primary care services that could not be met by using air service. eneET Mr. Cogswell, OMB, referred to P.L. 96-205 and asked what is the responsibility of the Government of the Marshal¥°Islands for providing basic health care to its citizens. It was noted that the budget proposals for the four atoll proposal; as well as a health care proposal for all of the Marshalls, Smcluded a first year contribution of $3.5 million from MarshalleZslands Government funding, and MIG funds also would be available : continuing years. In answer to a question on cost escalation, Dr.:Hart explained that an approximate 20% inflationary factor had'*been built into the proposal after year one, i.e., 1980. Also population growth had been taken into account. ES ie Mr. Gerry, MIALP, stated the proposal was a fing health plan but he denied the fact that radiation problems are got "minimal" as stated in the proposal. In fact, he believes they are "great" in the Marshalls. Up and beyond the actual radiation aspects, there are mental health effects that also are very significant. Special health care for all aspects of radiatiom” related aspects should be provided to the "affected peoples" by-the United States ay Wy 4 Government. He commented that in his estimation, the plan by denying or down- for the U.S. Congress searcely would grading the radiation factors has Congress to accept it. made it politically impossible underwrite health care for all the people of théMarshalls unless it were shown that the underlying cause was carg needed because of results of the U.S.atomic testing program. ZAdditionally, the report was contradictory on ée “radiation aspects". The overall plan stressed "minimal effects of radiation" yet the report in places also stressed the "thyroid abnormalities" of the Rongelapese and Utirikes@#and other related radiation effects on the exposed people". He a@iso found the _ Table 4 on page“@7 showed cancer statistics cited unexplained. to be the leading cause of death in the Marshai%s. Would you not more @&uses other have to area" expect in an "undeveloped important? Was it not possible that radiation*exposure might be reflected in the cancer statistics? on children? ties, etc.? Had any studies been done What about the documented reports? of birth abnormali- Why were these aspects ignored? -8-