February '08 Nevada Government—Shelley Berkley Column

Berkley Seeks To Slash Radioactive Pork As Bush Budget Calls For $495 Million To Fund Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today (February 4, 2008) released the following response to President Bush’s $495 million budget request for the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump:

“For the President to ask seniors, children and families to sacrifice in this budget while calling for ever more spending on Yucca Mountain is a slap in the face to all those who could be helped by using this funding to address urgent issues like the need for jobs, housing and medical insurance,” said Berkley. “President Bush has made no secret about his desire to bury the nation’s nuclear garbage 90 minutes outside Las Vegas and this year’s budget again reflects his mistaken priorities, whether it be Yucca Mountain or cuts to Medicaid and Medicare.”

“Support for this bloated $77 billion project continues to erode as the delays grow longer and the chance that Yucca Mountain will open before 2020 fades like a Nevada sunset. President Bush is dreaming if he thinks Congress is going to waste another $495 million on his plan to turn Nevada into a nuclear waste dump and I will continue to work with my colleagues to see that this radioactive pork is once again slashed,” said Berkley.

“We can save billions of dollars that could be used to pay for more health care, to boost renewable energy and to promote economic growth by pulling the plug on Yucca Mountain and storing nuclear waste at reactor sites where it can safely remain for the next 100 years,” said Berkley.

Berkley Again Votes to Give10 Million Children Healthcare

Latest Effort to Overcome Bush SCHIP Veto Fails in House

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today (January 23, 2008) again voted to override the President's veto of bipartisan legislation to provide health care to 10 million children through the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The bipartisan plan vetoed by the President would extend care to more than 34,000 currently uninsured children in the Silver State who are eligible for coverage under the state run Nevada Check Up program.

"With the economy slowing, more parents are having difficulty finding health insurance for their children and that makes the SCHIP program more critical than ever," said Congresswoman Berkley. "President Bush and a handful of Republicans are blocking health care for 3.8 million additional children who would be covered by SCHIP under this bill. Passing this legislation would provide health care to 34,000 children in the Silver State who are eligible for Nevada Check Up but are not enrolled in the program. Without an extension of SCHIP, many of these Nevada children will not be able to see a doctor when they are sick or receive regular dental care," said Berkley. "I have heard from large numbers of southern Nevada residents who have written or called to express their overwhelming support for this legislation. That is why I will continue pushing for passage of this SCHIP package so we can enroll more children in Nevada Check Up. But that is only going to happen when we have enough votes to override the President's veto," said Berkley.

The legislation vetoed by the President provided a $35 billion expansion of the SCHIP program and would have provided health care coverage to 10 million children. The legislation was backed by Republicans and Democrats in both houses of Congress and enjoyed support from Governors of both parties. Additionally, a series of new polls indicated overwhelming public support for SCHIP, with as much as 81 percent of the country backing the bipartisan Congressional plan.

The existing SCHIP program was extended in December until March 2009—but, without this legislation, 3.8 million additional low-income children who are eligible but not enrolled will now not be covered under the program. In addition, state budget shortfalls and administrative rules from President Bush put children who are covered now in jeopardy of losing health care.

Berkley Calls For Investigation Into Deaths Linked to Misdiagnosed Medical Cases Among U.S. Military

Cites Tragic Case of Deceased Marine Veteran Carmelo Rodriguez

Citing the tragic death of former U.S. Marine Carmelo Rodriguez III as a call to action, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) today (February 1, 2008) ked the Chair of the House Armed Services Committee and the Chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee to investigate medical cases misdiagnosed or ignored by military doctors or healthcare personnel. As reported this week by CBS News, Sergeant Rodriguez died of skin cancer that was diagnosed by a military doctor more than a decade ago, but was never treated, ultimately leading to the Iraq War veteran's death at age 29.

"As a member of America's armed forces, Sergeant Carmelo Rodriguez III served our nation, but the military's medical system failed him when he did not receive treatment for the cancer that ultimately claimed his life. We must examine what happened to this ex-Marine -- and others just like him -- in the hope that similar tragedies can be prevented. I have asked the Chairmen of the House Armed Services Committee and House Veterans' Affairs Committee to look into the case of Sergeant Rodriguez and the larger question of medical care for our troops and our veterans. Veterans and members of the armed forces are entitled to an accurate diagnosis, timely treatment and thorough follow-up care when they receive medical services through the military or VA healthcare system," said Berkley, who serves as a Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

In her letter to the Chairmen, Berkley writes of the Rodriguez story that, "This is not the first case of medical misdiagnosis among active duty servicemembers. Many documented cases have been reported across our military branches and have been reported among units in combat and non-combat roles. With our military under tremendous pressure in Iraq, this will not be the last case either. The Department of Defense continues to struggle to maintain troop levels, and there have been reports of troops being deployed with possible health ailments." (see full text of letter below).

The CBS report on the death of former Sgt. Rodriguez can be found on-line at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/31/eveningnews/main3776580.shtml

February 1, 2008
The Honorable Bob Filner		The Honorable Ike Skelton
Chairman		Chairman
House Veterans' Affairs Committee		House Armed Services Committee
335 Cannon		2120 Rayburn
House Office Building		House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0001		Washington, D.C. 20515-0001

Dear Chairman Filner and Chairman Skelton,

Last night, CBS News aired the horrifying story of Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez. Sgt. Rodriguez, whose ultimately fatal melanoma had been grossly misdiagnosed and ignored by military doctors, weighed less than 80 pounds when he died, as a CBS news crew prepared to interview him.

According to the news report, when Sgt. Rodriguez enlisted in 1997, a military doctor documented in his initial medical checkup that he had melanoma, but gave no recommendation for further treatment. Eight years later, Sgt. Rodriguez served his country in Iraq, where he was again seen by military doctors about his skin abnormality. His condition was diagnosed as a "wart" and he was told to have it checked out in five months when he returned to the United States. As it turns out, Sgt. Rodriguez was forced into retirement due to his illness. Since he was retired, the military was no longer obligated to pay for his funeral and his son would only receive 55 percent of his benefits.

This is not the first case of medical misdiagnosis among active duty servicemembers. Many documented cases have been reported across our military branches and have been reported among units in combat and non-combat roles. With our military under tremendous pressure in Iraq, this will not be the last case either. The Department of Defense continues to struggle to maintain troop levels, and there have been reports of troops being deployed with possible health ailments.

I strongly urge you to investigate this issue because it is imperative we fully reexamine the medical care being provided to our brave men and women in the military and the care they receive when transitioning to veteran status. It is unacceptable that our brave men and women who serve this country with great dignity are not receiving the care they have earned. I look forward to further investigating this issue.