Klobuchar and Group of Senators Call on Senate Appropriations Committee to Boost Funding to Decontaminate Lead-Tainted National Guard Armories and Readiness Centers

Press Release

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and a group of senators have called on the Senate Appropriations Committee to boost funding to decontaminate lead-tainted National Guard armories and readiness centers. In December 2016, The Oregonian published a series of investigative articles exposing serious lead dust contamination in more than 400 National Guard armories across 41 states, including one in Minnesota, and there is evidence that the problem may be even more widespread. In a letter to Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Vice Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL), Klobuchar and the group of senators urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide adequate funding to support the success of state Adjutants General as they work to remove this threat to the health of our citizen soldiers, their families, and the general public.

"National Guard armories across our nation are used to maintain unit readiness, for recruiting prospective enlistments, and for sustaining family support programs," the senators wrote. "As you begin to consider the Fiscal Year 2018 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, we urge you to provide adequate funding to support the success of state Adjutants General as they work to remove this threat to the health of our citizen soldiers, their families, and the general public from National Guard armories associated with indoor firing ranges."

Klobuchar has worked in a bipartisan manner to modernize G.I. Bill benefits for our troops and to strengthen funding veterans' health care. She has also authored bipartisan bills on behalf of our nation's veterans and their families to help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits, expand job training and employment opportunities, cut red tape and wait times for veterans scheduling appointments at VA Medical Facilities, and to reduce veterans' homelessness.

Last month, Klobuchar introduced the bipartisan Sinai Service Recognition Act with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) to give Sinai stationed Minnesota National Guard and Reserve servicemembers full benefits. She also introduced the bipartisan Savings for Servicemembers Act with Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) to help National Guard members and reservists to cut out-of-pocket costs for travel to required training and drills. In February, Klobuchar introduced the Educational Development (ED) for Troops and Veterans Act to provide education benefits to servicemembers who often have to leave behind schools, jobs, and homes to serve their country.

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