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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Depleted uranium is the matter left over when most
3of the highly radioactive types of uranium are removed for use
4as nuclear fuel or nuclear weapons; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The United States Military uses tank armor and
6some bullets made with depleted uranium to penetrate enemy
7armored vehicles; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The manufacturing of enriched uranium from
9natural uranium used in reactors or weapons leaves behind
10"depleted" uranium; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Depleted uranium has 40% less radioactivity, but
12the exact same chemical toxicity as natural uranium; and
 
13    WHEREAS, When a projectile containing depleted uranium
14penetrates a vehicle, small pieces of the uranium can become
15embedded in muscle and soft tissue; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Servicemembers exposed to depleted uranium may
17have also inhaled or swallowed small airborne particles of
18depleted uranium; and
 
19    WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of

 

 

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1Veterans Affairs, some veterans of the Gulf War, Operation
2Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New
3Dawn may have been exposed to depleted uranium as a result of
4being in or near a vehicle that was hit by friendly fire,
5entering or being near burning vehicles, being near fires
6involving depleted uranium munitions, or from salvaging
7damaged vehicles; and
 
8    WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of
9Veterans Affairs, no health problems associated with depleted
10uranium exposure have been found in veterans exposed to it; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Many servicemembers who believed they were
12exposed to depleted uranium have gone overseas for a more
13sophisticated urine test to detect for exposure; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Pfc. Aaron Barnes of Fulton County served in Iraq
15for 26 months and became ill a year after his 2nd deployment;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Tests were performed which showed a large mass on
18his kidney; he told doctors at the Iowa City VA Hospital that
19he believed it was a result of exposure to depleted uranium
20during his deployments in Iraq; after being told that the mass
21was not a result of depleted uranium exposure, he was sent home
22without a biopsy or additional testing; after having the mass

 

 

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1removed from his kidney, a biopsy showed a rare cancer had
2developed; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Pfc. Barnes began chemotherapy treatment
4following the removal of the mass from his kidney; he passed
5away on August 24, 2011, leaving behind his wife, Mandy, and 2
6children, Emma and David; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Servicemembers who believe they were exposed to
8depleted uranium have had a difficult time in the VA system
9while being tested and treated for exposure; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
12urge the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois
13Department of Veterans' Affairs to thoroughly study the effects
14of depleted uranium exposure on Illinois servicemembers and
15veterans; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
17presented to the Director of the Illinois Department of Public
18Health and the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans'
19Affairs.