Honoring America’s Nuclear Weapons Program Workers

The U.S. Senate first adopted a resolution honoring America’s nuclear weapons industry workers in October 2009 – and this recognition was long overdue. Each year since, the Senate has renewed this resolution designating Oct. 30 as a day of remembrance for nuclear weapons workers, including uranium miners, millers and ore transporters.

On this Oct. 30th National Day of Remembrance, I would like to thank nuclear weapons workers and their family members for the important role they served in the interest of national defense. Today we pay our respect and gratitude to these workers and remember their sacrifices.

I encourage those workers who became ill due to their work, or their surviving family members, to apply for benefits under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (known as EEOICPA). The compensation and medical benefits available under the program may help lessen the hardships some seriously ill workers and their families are now facing.

To learn more about eligibility or start a claim, we have 11 stationary Resource Centers located nationwide to provide assistance both in-person and over the telephone. To find the nearest Resource Center or to learn more about how to file a claim under the EEOICPA, call us toll-free at 866-888-3322 or visit our website.

Rachel P. Pond is the director of the Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs.