CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH ON THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF DEPLETED URANIUM

WHEREAS, the U.S. armed forces utilizes Depleted Uranium (DU) as a significant, tactical factor on the modern-day battlefield and must continue to do so in the future; and

WHEREAS, the ingestion of residual particles from expended DU munitions may potentially cause adverse health problems; and

WHEREAS, Army reports state that personnel who come in contact with vehicles destroyed by DU rounds can inhale or ingest the uranium particles which are exposed to them; and

WHEREAS, inhaled or ingested DU particles become trapped in the lungs or can deposit in the kidneys, liver, bone marrow, and/or reproductive organs; and

WHEREAS, DU is now considered by many to be a significant potential contributor to the array of illnesses commonly referred to as "Gulf War Syndrome"; and

WHEREAS, a recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report recommended further research on the effects of Depleted Uranium; and

WHEREAS, the Baltimore VA Medical Center has maintained an ongoing follow-up program since 1993 that monitors the health effects of Persian Gulf soldiers that were exposed to DU inhalation and/or shrapnel; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, that we
urge the federal government to continue adequate funding to support ongoing
and, as determined necessary, expand research regarding the health effects of
Depleted Uranium.

Submitted by Commander-in-Chief

To the Committee on VETERANS SERVICE RESOLUTIONS

The intent of this resolution is:

To adequately fund research regarding the health effects of Depleted Uranium.