RONGELAP AND UTIRIK ENGAGE LEGAL COUNSEL AND FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. 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 Tild ATTENTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE COURT OF WORLD OPINON, SHOULD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SOMEHOW TRY TO AVOID ITS OBLIGATIONS. LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO NENTION 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 WAS BEEN MONEY WELL SPENT, FOR AT PRESENT THE TRUST TERRITORY IS NOW NEGOTIATING WITH THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION TO ‘PROVIDE SUPPORT FORPt. 5-52 WHICH WAS ENACTED LAST YEAR, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE THE ORIGINAL ee ec “INCONVENIENCE”PAYMENTTO THEUTIRIKESE. ——-—- + _—oe —_— * ns 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 ASSOCTATION, 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 CONGRESS, THAT THE STANDING COMMITTEES ON HEALTH IN bOTH HOUSES, SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEAL ine __ 9010556 ce