The Administration at this time continues to oppose firther Title I payment. In addition, because of the uncertainty now existing as to_ the.anpuit needed to settle Title I claims, and the additional__ ' uncertality as to when the question about amunt will finally established, we think, at a minimm, it is premature to support the authcrization contained in section 102. These uncertainties arise because of pending litigation. ‘he United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed and remanded earlier decisions of the United States District Court in two suits involving three claims, holding that the Micronesian Claims Act and its legislative history do not preclude judicial review of final decisions of the Micronesian Claims Commission v. Bell, 569 F.2d 607 (1977); Melong v. Micronesian Claims Commission, 469 F.2d 630 (1977)). The first question before us, and itself not a difficult one to resolve, is where those three claims should be reheard, inasmxh as the Micronesian Claims Commission has long since disbanded. We would be prepared to offer legislation to provide a forum for this purpose, but it my be that the problem is immensely more complicated than that. This is so because after the Court of Appeals ruling, the District Court ruled against class certification, but this class action issue is now on appeal. If the lower court ruling against the class certification is overturned, substantial effort would have to be expected in re-determining a large mmber of claims. It is estimated that as mary as 10,000 Title I claims might then require readjudication. Such readjudications would probably (a) require creation of same new instrumentality to perform the adjudicatory work, (b) result in a change in the total anpunt of $22.6 million unfimded—but whether upward or downward, we are unable to project, and (c) consume mary months to conplete. The Administration remains opposed to further Title I payments at this time. We will await the Court of Appeals decision on the class action suit before determining what other steps may be required. Qrly then will we know -the magnitude of the problem before us. Section 103 oo Section 103 would establish a comprehensive medical care and monitoring program under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior for the inhabitants of Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap, and Utirik who were subjected to radiation damage as a result of United States muclear testing in the The Administration strongly believes that it is the responsibility af the United States to insure that the people of the Marshall Islands who have been exposed to radioactive hazards resulting from muclear testing at Enewetak and Bikini receive proper medical follow-up and, where appropriate, medical care. Sarre ayy tener or .-. SRF A a . t | 3 ~ Ce Te uet po, oy