(a News Release of Senator John Glenn's Opening Remarks at the First Hearing of the Governmental Affairs Committee Regarding the Government's Secret Radiation Experiments, and the Existing Guide ...

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News ReleaseFor Imrediate &lease: centacts: Jadr sparks (202) 224-5635 Good morning. Today the Governmental Mfairr Committee holds the first in what will likely be a number of hearings into the government's eecret radiation awperimant~. The Committee will also examine the guidelines and laws that are in place governing the use of human subjects in m y type of experiment - 0 not just those with radiation. To allay fears and restore shaken confidence, there are three areas we must investigate - - First. What actually happened during the human radiation experiments conducted in the past? Apparently these experiments were often conducted without the knowledge or permission of the Secretary O'Leary has already taken major steps to find and release records that will let us know what happened, and what can and should be done about it now. In addition, the President has formed an Interagency Working Group and Advisory Committee to make the same determination across goverament. I commend them for their efforts. Second. What human radiation experiments are going on now? A n d what are the protections for the people involved? Are current laws adequate? Are they being scrupulously followed? How do we know? What kind of monitoring systems are in place? Do we need new laws to fill any existing weaknesses or loopholes? Third. What kinds of other human experiments - 0 in areas having nothing to do with radiation are being conducted? these experiments have the proper consent of the people involved? A large number of Federal agencies are or were involved in such research. For example: FDA, NIH, CDC, VA, DOD, DOE, C I A , and NASA to name a few. The same questions we ask about human radiation experiments, past and present, can and should be asked about other research on our own people. As a result of this hearing, and others to follow if necessary, I hope t o be &le to assure people in my homestate of Ohio, and those around the country, that their government is no longer conducting experiments unknown to the individual and that may not abide by strict ethical, scientific and legal guidelines. Over the past two months, we have seen a virtual avalanche of revelations describing secret radiation experiments conducted by the U.S. government on humans - - some unknowing and unwitting.

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are very disturbing. It is quite upsetting to learn that your own country could carry out such experiments on its citizens, without a0 report I released in mid-December documenting 12 previously unknown deliberate releases of radiation, have created a great deal of confusion. We hope to be able to clear up some of this All the revelations of the last few months, which include a A crucial issue is how to get the information on these testa out to the public. The people who were used in these experiments should be found and informed of exactly what went on, and if necessary provided with medical treatment. That is the important first step towards making any amends. However, I would caution against an immediate rush to naming and identifying these people. We must also have an appropriate plan in place to assist them. attention on this issue, there are cases of citizens apparently refusing to accept therapeutic and diagnostic radiation treatments, for fear that they are being used as guinea pigs by the government. Tens of millions of proven, beneficial and safe applications of radiation are given in the U.S. every year. These treatments have been developed by the medical profession and approved by the government. If someone has a question about a particular procedure or treatment, that person should consult with his or her own doctor. But it is also of concern when we hear reports that, due to Again, I want to commend both the White House and Department of Energy for their efforts so far in this area. The Administration is starting the task of uncovering the truth, even Secretary O'Leary deserves the thanks and support of Congress and the American public for tackling such an explosive issue with compassion and forthrightness. Having made repeated requests of the past two Administrations over this issue - - requests routinely ignored - it is quite refreshing to see the administration being open and putting the truth first. Nevertheless, getting at the truth is going to be difficult. One problem is whether documentation still exists on many of these tests. The Department of Energy's own hotline, set up to receive calls from people who may have been involved in radiation testing, has logged thousands of cases. These thousands of cases must be checked with literally millions of government records. It is truly a monumental task.

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My office alone has received a large volume of letters and phone calls from people who believe they have been the subjects of radiation experiments. I've also received letters from various "atomic veterans" with information about specific testa or question8 regarding their individual cases. letters along to the appropriate agencies and ask that they investigate the allegations. There are also privacy concerns for the records of those people involved in the tests. It would set a very poor precedent for the U.S. government to release privileged medical information on any citizens without their prior consent. The issue of secret radiation testing also should initiate a review of our current testing guidelines. Obviously, many people in government thought the standards that permitted m a n y of these radiation tests were adequate. 20/20 hindsight gives us a different perspective. Will our current guidelines stand up to I will pass these For example, since 1991 all Federal agencies have adopted strict guidelines concerning informed consent and the use of institutional review boards in any experiments involving human subjects. However, the Department of Health and H u m a n Service haa also promulgated guidelines concerning certain segments of our population who should have additional protections. These include pregnant mothers and their fetuses, Children, and prisoners. While MIS has adopted these guidelines, most other agencies have not. Today we will ask "why not?" In addition, as I understand it, a rule regarding the use of human subjects who are institutionalized and mentally impaired has not yet made it out of HHS. Again we will ask why this is I've covered a broad set of questions for the Committee to review, so let m e repeat the three areas I outlined at the beginning of the statement. With respect to the radiation experiments, 1) What happened in the past? What is being done to address 2 ) What types of radiation experiments are going on now?? Are they being conducted properly? 3 ) What other types of human experimentation are being conducted by the government now? Are these experiments being

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I'd like to welcome our witnesses this morning. Before we hear from Secretary O'Leary, I'd like to recognize Senator...