SR0679 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0679 LRB099 12828 MST 36646 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Depleted uranium is the matter left over when most of the highly radioactive types of uranium are removed for use as nuclear fuel or nuclear weapons; and

WHEREAS, The United States Military uses tank armor and some bullets made with depleted uranium to penetrate enemy armored vehicles; and

WHEREAS, The manufacturing of enriched uranium from natural uranium used in reactors or weapons leaves behind "depleted" uranium; and

WHEREAS, Depleted uranium has 40% less radioactivity, but the exact same chemical toxicity as natural uranium; and

WHEREAS, When a projectile containing depleted uranium penetrates a vehicle, small pieces of the uranium can become embedded in muscle and soft tissue; and

WHEREAS, Servicemembers exposed to depleted uranium may have also inhaled or swallowed small airborne particles of depleted uranium; and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, some veterans of the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn may have been exposed to depleted uranium as a result of being in or near a vehicle that was hit by friendly fire, entering or being near burning vehicles, being near fires involving depleted uranium munitions, or from salvaging damaged vehicles; and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, no health problems associated with depleted uranium exposure have been found in veterans exposed to it; and

WHEREAS, Many servicemembers who believed they were exposed to depleted uranium have gone overseas for a more sophisticated urine test to detect for exposure; and

WHEREAS, Pfc. Aaron Barnes of Fulton County served in Iraq for 26 months and became ill a year after his 2nd deployment; and

WHEREAS, Tests were performed which showed a large mass on his kidney; he told doctors at the Iowa City VA Hospital that he believed it was a result of exposure to depleted uranium during his deployments in Iraq; after being told that the mass was not a result of depleted uranium exposure, he was sent home without a biopsy or additional testing; after having the mass removed from his kidney, a biopsy showed a rare cancer had developed; and

WHEREAS, Pfc. Barnes began chemotherapy treatment following the removal of the mass from his kidney; he passed away on August 24, 2011, leaving behind his wife, Mandy, and 2 children, Emma and David; and

WHEREAS, Servicemembers who believe they were exposed to depleted uranium have had a difficult time in the VA system while being tested and treated for exposure; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to thoroughly study the effects of depleted uranium exposure on Illinois servicemembers and veterans; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.