On June 15, 2000, Congressman Robert Underwood (D-Delegate-Guam) introduced a resolution into Congress in support of addressing the environmental contamination problem in the former U.S. military bases in the Philippines.

House Concurrent Resolution 355 expressed "the sense of the Congress regarding environmental contamination and health effects emanating from the former United States military facilities in the Philippines."

Although it is language of intent and not legally binding, it is a great first step in our ultimate goal of achieving legislation to allocate funds for clean up and addressment of health issues in the former Clark and Subic.

The resolution expressed that

(1) the Secretary of State, in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense, should work with the Government of the Philippines and with appropriate nongovernmental organizations in the United States and the Philippines to fully identify and share all relevant information concerning environmental contamination and health effects emanating from United States military facilities following the departure of United States military forces from the Philippiens in 1992; and (2) the United States should work with the Government of the Philippines to help ameloriate the environmental contamination and health effects emanating from United States military facilities following the departure of United States military forces from the Philippines in 1992.

The resolution was referred to the Committee on International Relations.

A similar resolution has been introduced by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), April 7, 2000, in Senate Bill no. 2382.

PLEASE WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND ASK THEM TO CO-SPONSOR H.CON.RES. 355

(Don't know your representative? Look on www.house.gov/writerep)

For more information, please contact FACES at (202) 544-6564 ext. 5