Atomic Energy Commission
l.
The Committee helieves that because of p~sycholoyical implications,
new thyroid nodule findings, and the unorecedented case of leukemia, it
strongly recommends that the AEC recruit and fund
a doctor like Dr.
Knudsen--
on a one or two year contract hasis to visit the Rongelapese and Utirikese
during the time between the yearly examinations.
‘The Committee has been
advised that finding someone to do this is very difficult.
believes this is not a valid consideration.
The Committee
The former Surgeon General of
the United States informed the Committee that the U.S. Public Health Service
has about 40,000 emplovees,
Also,
12,000 of them in professional occupations.
the Committee Goes not believe that the matter of funding should
stand in the way of this proposal since the AEC's annual budget exceeds by
several times the annual budget for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
Arrangements for such a service on a continuing basis can he made through
the Department of the Interior and the rust Territory Government.
As an alternate proposal,
should the above proposal he impossible to
fulfill--which the Committee doubts--the Committee then would favor the
recommendation of two of its consultants to have a hospital ship visit the
island reqularly,
2.
the cost of which would also he borne hy the AFC.
It is also recommended hy the Committee tnat the Atomic Energy
‘Cammission urovide funds in addition to regular Grant Funds for any new
hospital facility on Majuro and Ebeve for the purposes of constructing
additional rooias and providina equinment particularly relevant to the
examinations of the Ronrelapese and Utirihkese.
The Committee further recommends that the Atomic Mnerqy Commission
at
increase its funcing under contractual obligations to Brookhaven National
a. os).
.
173