I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5060
To provide for the disclosure of information on projects of the Department
of Defense, such as Project 112 and the Shipboard Hazard and Defense
Project (Project SHAD), that included testing of biological or chemical
agents involving potential exposure of members of the Armed Forces
to toxic agents, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 27, 2002
Mr. THOMPSON of California (for himself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. BERMAN,
Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. BOYD, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. FARR of Cali-
fornia, Mr. FILNER, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. JOHN,
Mr. BERRY, Mr. MATHESON, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr.
MOORE, Mr. MURTHA, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. POMBO, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr.
SCHIFF, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi, Mr.
TURNER, Ms. WATSON of California, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. CHAMBLISS, and
Mr. BILIRAKIS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To provide for the disclosure of information on projects of
the Department of Defense, such as Project 112 and
the Shipboard Hazard and Defense Project (Project
SHAD), that included testing of biological or chemical
agents involving potential exposure of members of the
Armed Forces to toxic agents, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Right-To-
Know Act of 2002’’.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ‘‘Project SHAD’’ means a series
of tests, known as the Shipboard Hazard and De-
fense Project, conducted by the Department of De-
fense between approximately 1962 and 1970 that
were intended to evaluate the effectiveness of ship-
board detection and protective procedures against
chemical warfare agents and biological warfare
agents.
(2) The term ‘‘Project 112’’ means a series of
tests conducted by the Department of Defense pri-
marily during the 1960s in and around Alaska using
chemical and biological agents.
SEC. 3. IDENTIFICATION OF PROJECTS.
(a) IDENTIFICATION.—The Secretary of Defense
shall identify each developmental or operational test of the
Department of Defense (or a contractor of the Depart-
ment of Defense) involving chemical or biological weapons,
or defense against such weapons, in which members of the
Armed Forces or civilians were or may have been exposed
to actual or simulated hazardous agents, whether with or
without their knowledge or consent. The Secretary shall
identify such tests based on a thorough review of the
records of the Department, including classified and un-
classified records.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
shall submit to Congress a report on the actions of the
Secretary under subsection (a). The report shall include,
with respect to each test identified pursuant to subsection
(a), the following:
(1) A description of the test, including the test
name, the date and location of the test, the test ob-
jective, and identification of each biological or chem-
ical agent involved and the name of any solvent used
to clean up after the test.
(2) The number of members of the Armed
Forces, and the number of persons who were not
members of the Armed Forces, who may have been
affected by the test.
(3) Identification of any vessels or other major
equipment involved in the test.
SEC. 4. OVERSIGHT WORKING GROUP ON BIOLOGICAL AND
CHEMICAL TESTING.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OVERSIGHT GROUP.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Comptroller General
shall establish within the General Accounting Office
an Oversight Working Group on Biological and
Chemical Testing. The Oversight Working Group
shall work to review activities of the Department of
Defense being carried out to investigate all chemical
and biological tests conducted by the Department
that involved, or may have exposed, members of the
Armed Forces or civilians.
(2) TIME
FOR
ESTABLISHMENT.—The Over-
sight Working Group shall be established by the
Comptroller General not later than 30 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) COMMENCEMENT
OF
ACTIVITIES.—The
Oversight Working Group shall begin their review of
Department of Defense materials immediately upon
being established.
(b) REPORT
ON PROJECT SHAD (AND PROJECT
112).—Not later than six months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Oversight Working Group shall
submit to Congress a report providing information con-
cerning Project SHAD and Project 112. The report shall
include the following: