RICHARD E.

NEAL
COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
FIRST DISTRICT, MASSACHUSETTS RANKING MEMBER,
_________
SUBCOMMITTEE ON SELECT
AT- LARGE WHIP
REVENUE MEASURES
DEMOCRATIC LEADER,
FRIENDS OF IRELAND CAUCUS
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June 2, 2014
Dr. Ronald Maurer
Director, Congressional Liaison Service
U.S. House of Representatives
B-328 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 205 15-0001
Dear Dr. Maurer:
I am writing in support of the requests of the Air Force Reserve and Air National guard veterans of Westover Air
Force Base who flew aboard C-123 aircraft formerly used to spray Agent Orange in the Vietnam War to be covered
under the Agent Orange Act of 1991.
These C-123 aircraft were stripped of their spraying equipment following the end of Operation Ranch Hand;
however, reports from pilots testify to the known cancer causing chemical routinely leaking into and spraying back
into the open cabins of these aircraft. This spreading of Agent Orange into the cabins of these planes brought the
carcinogen dioxin into the workplace of the men and women serving on the C-123 aircraft following the Vietnam
War.
According to a Yale Law School study on this matter, a 1994 Air Force commissioned study of a C-123 plane flown
both in Operation Ranch Hand and after the Vietnam War found it still contained enough of the carcinogen dioxin to
subject a restoration worker repairing the plane to, an acceptable level for lifetime exposure. The plane as a result
was deemed heavily contaminated, twelve years after active crews worked on the plane. This surface presence of
dioxin coincides with the National Academy of Science statement that, exposure of humans to TCDD [dioxin] is
thought to occur primarily via the mouth, skin and lungs, confirming the exposure of the crewmen of these planes
to dioxin.
Taking into account this information and the high levels of illnesses known to be linked to Agent Orange occurring
in these Westover veterans, I believe these men and women are entitled to the same benefits granted to those who
served on the ground in Vietnam.
Thank you very much for your attention to this request. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest
convenience.
Sincerely,
4L
Richard E. Neal
Member of Congress
2208 RAYBuRN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 300 STATE STREET SILVIO 0. C0NTE FEDERAL BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC 20515 SUITE 200 78 CENTER STREET
12021 225-5601 SPRINGFIELD, MA 01105 PITTSFIELD, MA 01201
(413) 785-0325 (413) 442-0946
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