Monday, August 14, 2017

Rep. Gosar Introduces Bill to Seek Justice for "Downwinders" Negatively Impacted by Government Nuclear Testing

Washington, D.C. - August 14, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after introducing H.R. 3531, the Downwinders Compensation Act, which will ensure partial restitution to victims who now have cancer and other serious medical issues as a result of being exposed to nuclear fallout and radiation during government testing:

“A strong military is absolutely vital to ensuring our national security, but the testing of government weapons should never jeopardize the well-being and health of Americans,” said Congressman Gosar. “Unfortunately for countless bystanders, this was not the protocol in years past. The exposure to cancer-causing carcinogens from atmospheric nuclear tests by the government has inflicted serious health implications, affecting the lives of thousands of Arizonans.

“Since my first term, I have I heard several gut-wrenching stories from individuals who now have cancer or have lost loved ones due to federal government negligence. For Congress to deny these victims the right to even file a claim is intolerable. It’s time for Congress to quit the cowardice and stand up to the injustice.”

“Congressman Gosar’s bill gives the help and recognition that the people of Mohave County who have suffered from the government’s radiation tests have long needed,” said Mohave County District III Supervisor Buster Johnson.

Gary Watson, Mohave County District I Supervisor, said, “Mohave County is pleased and excited to join forces with Congressman Paul Gosar who continues the fight to secure Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments for our residents who were adversely impacted by nuclear weapons testing. As Chairman of the Board, and Supervisor District 1, We appreciate the continuing efforts of Congressman Gosar to expand the eligibility boundaries to ensure justice for Mohave County residents exposed to government radiation testing.”

“I have been working with Congressman Gosar's office, traveling throughout Arizona, Nevada and Utah giving my Downwinder's presentation to City Councils and Board of Commissioners in support of Congressman Gosar's efforts to bring that portion of Mohave County, Arizona and Clark County, Nevada, previously left out of the RECA bill, into compensation,” said Sherri Hanna, Mohave County resident and Downwinders advocate. “Congressman Gosar has worked tirelessly on behalf of all Downwinders. We are truly grateful for his efforts.”

From 1945 to 1962 the United States government conducted nearly 200 atmospheric weapons development tests as part of our nation’s Cold War security strategy during an era when other hostile nations were also engaged in nuclear weapons testing and proliferation. These tests exposed thousands of innocent Americans to cancer-causing ionized radiation from nuclear fallout.

When the injuries were discovered, Congress subsequently provided an apology on behalf of the nation and passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990, or RECA, to establish a trust fund for partial restitution to individuals—commonly referred to as “Downwinders”—who have contracted certain cancers and other serious diseases that can be directly attributed to the radiation exposure from the nuclear weapons testing.

While the Act which established RECA was well-intended, there are serious boundary flaws that have prevented otherwise eligible Americans from receiving justice and the compensation to which they are entitled. Americans that reside in counties in close proximity to where the testing occurred are excluded from this program for no logical scientific reason, including people that reside in Mohave County, Arizona and Clark County, Nevada. This bill corrects this injustice and will provide compensation to qualifying individuals not included in the 1990 Act that deserve restitution. New claimants under this act are subject to the same burden of proof as all other claimants currently covered.

In 2014, Congressman Gosar held a field hearing in Kingman, Arizona in regard to the Downwinders of Mohave County, Arizona. At the hearing, Congressman Gosar heard a range of testimony, from expert reviews on the law and medicine to the personal stories of actual Downwinders. Witnesses included a Congressional Research Service (CRS) analyst, Mohave County officials, the Chairwoman of the Hualapai Tribe and several local residents who either developed radiation-induced cancer themselves or have family members who died from radiation-induced cancer.

The four original cosponsors that joined Congressman Gosar in introducing this legislation include: Mark Amodei (NV-02), Trent Franks (AZ-08), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07, Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09).

House Reps Condemn Free Speech Rally in Charlottesville

Washington, D.C. - August 14, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) issued the following statement condemning the Free Speech rally in Charlottesville, Virginia:

“I am deeply saddened and revolted by the hate and violence taking place in Charlottesville, and am praying for the victim killed and others injured. The racist and anti-Semitic views embraced by white supremacists have no place in our nation And the riots and theft and police attacks and interfering in a peaceful rally by the BLM also do not have a place in our nation.
and do not reflect core American values of equality and religious freedom. We are all created in the image of God, and I strongly condemn such detestable views against fellow human beings. I thank the many brave law enforcement officers responding to the violence today. I am also extremely saddened to hear that two were killed in a Virginia State Police helicopter crash in the Charlottesville area this afternoon. My prayers are with their families and the law enforcement community as they mourn this loss."

Representative Gene Green (D-TX) stated:

“I stand with the rest of America and condemn the actions of the white supremacist groups that were responsible for the violence this weekend. Okay. Now, why didn't you include the BLM and ANTIFA's violence as well? Is it okay for them to instigate and attack just because they didn't murder anyone? The actions that took place in Charlottesville do not reflect the values that America stands for and should not be tolerated. Racism, bigotry, and hate have no place in our country and we must continue to disavow the white supremacists But not the BLM? that were responsible for the violence. My thoughts are with the families of Heather Heyer, the two Virginia State Troopers who tragically died defending justice, and the city of Charlottesville.”

Congressman Griffith said, “I am appalled by the displays of racism and hate in Charlottesville this past weekend. The idea of white supremacy is contrary to our belief, as Virginians and Americans, that all men and women are created equal. That's right. All men are created equal. If the BLM can do it, so can the KKK. Again, where is your condemnation for the BLM who were at the rally instigating the violence? I condemn this bigotry and the violence it inspired that caused death and injury. The victims of Saturday’s car attack are in my thoughts and prayers.

"I also mourn the two Virginia state troopers killed in the helicopter crash. They made the ultimate sacrifice as part of law enforcement’s effort to prevent violence and protect innocent lives from the forces of hate this past weekend.”

(if it is in red, it is the editor's comments)

Charlottesville reignites Lee NAACP fight for removal of Confederate symbols in Fort Myers

Ft. Myers:News-Press

The images from the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that ended in upheaval and death Saturday led James Muwakkil to a Robert E. Lee statue in Fort Myers.

Muwakkil, the president of the NAACP in Lee County, placed an American flag at the statue on Monroe Street.

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It was a FREE SPEECH RALLY not a "White Supremacist Rally". White Supremacists just happened to show up.
I think the NAACP should be outlawed. Look at what the name means: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. By their very name, they are racist. They only work to advance colored people. God forbid we have a NAAWP. I am not racist, but I am sick of this being a one-sided issue.

South Florida activists host vigil for victims of Virginia white supremacy rally

Ft. Lauderdale:Sun-Sentinel

About 30 people came out to Cathy and Bob Anderson Park in Hollywood to speak out against racism and intolerance Sunday.

Protesters came donning signs and shirts with taglines such as “Refuse fascism” and calls to take down Confederate flags and monuments. The demonstration was meant to honor the people killed and injured protesting white supremacy in Charlottesville, Va. just a day before.

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Okay, since we are getting rid of all the symbols that represent people and ideas that we don't agree with,
let's get rid of the statues of Santa Claus in front of department stores at Christmas, and lets take down the statues of Martin Luther King, Jr. (who I totally admire, btw) around the nation, and all the statues of eagles that represent the freedoms we have according to our First Amendment, including Free Speech. While we are at it, since we are getting rid of the Confederate Flag, we should also get rid of the American Flag.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying I am for any of this at all, but if we are going to applaud people who call on suppression of Free Speech as a way to solve the race issue, I think we should be willing to give it up for ourselves, as well as make sure NO ONE has that freedom anymore.

Demonstrators in Colorado cities protest white supremacists

Ft. Collins Coloradoan

Demonstrators marched and waved signs in at least four Colorado cities after a white supremacist rally in Virginia turned deadly.

Rallies were held Sunday in Denver, Durango, Fort Collins and Lafayette.

In Fort Collins, marchers chanted “Everyone is welcome here. No hate, no fear.” One demonstrator’s sign said, “Make racists ashamed again.”

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While I applaud the fact that they are doing what they think they should to fight hate, I question their perception on the reasons they felt they had to. Are there signs in that crowd that decry the actions of the BLM along with those that decry the actions of the KKK? If not, isn't that being racist?

Opinion: Trump’s weak statement failed the people of Charlottesville and the rest of us

Fresno Bee

Words matter, but so does policy. Graham and Cruz called for investigations into such groups. They should make sure the U.S. Justice Department follows through.

Trump, for his part, needs to take a stand. He goes out of his way to denounce terrorists who claim to be followers of Islam, no matter where they strike. It should not be difficult to call white terrorists what they are, especially because they are responsible for so many more acts of domestic terrorism.

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This is all well and good, AS LONG AS while we are investigating the KKK and other groups like it, we don't forget to also investigate the BLM and the ANTIFA group that instigated the violence in the first place. It was, however, not a BLM or ANTIFA person driving the car. When a black man commits an atrocity like this, he is usually not on psychotropic drugs, either. Perhaps we need to investigate that, as well. As a matter of fact, it's just come out recently that all of the suicides of military men and women have been by our finest who are on psychotropic drugs. Is anyone getting this?

Crash suspect’s ex-teacher says he idolized Hitler, Nazism

Fairfield Republic

The young man accused of plowing a car into a crowd of people protesting a white supremacist rally was fascinated with Nazism, idolized Adolf Hitler, and had been singled out by school officials in the 9th grade for his “deeply held, radical” convictions on race, a former high school teacher said Sunday.

James Alex Fields Jr. also confided that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was younger and had been prescribed an anti-psychotic medication, Derek Weimer said in an interview with The Associated Press.

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Schizophrenia. Anti-psychotic medication. Go Figure. Also, just because the KKK was there does not make it a
"white supremacist rally". When are people going to stand up and tell the main stream media to either do proper research before publicizing trash or suffer the consequences, including but not limited to the dollars people spend on them.

Local residents protest Virginia violence

Fort Smith Southwest Times Record

A group of local residents came together to make protest the violence that horrified the country this weekend.

More than a dozen demonstrators gathered in front of the U.S. Post Office at 3318 S. 74th St. in Fort Smith on Sunday in response to the death and injuries that took place in Charlottesville, Va. on Saturday. A car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting a white nationalist rally, killing one person and injuring at least two dozen more. The white nationalists gathered to protest plans to remove a statue of the Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

A helicopter crash that killed the pilot and a passenger later Saturday afternoon outside the town was also linked by Virginia State Police to the rally.

Sunday’s event, which began at 3 p.m., was organized by Indivisible Fort Smith & Western Arkansas. Those involved held up signs with phrases that spoke out against racism and hatred as people drove by on South 74th Street, some of whom honked their horns in approval. Other demonstrators took to chanting, shouting slogans such as “No more hate,” “No more Charlottesville,” and “Let’s make a difference” to all who passed by.

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