Tester Sponsors Veterans Care Bill

Montana Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester has sponsored a bill for veteran’s treatment of illnesses associated with exposure to biological and chemical weapons.  Along with Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, Tester introduced the “Gary Deloney and John Olsen Toxic Exposure Declassification Act” on Monday.  The bill would give veterans access to military records that could help with disability benefits and Veterans Administration healthcare, and is named for Billings’ own U.S. Navy veteran John Olson, who takes 13 medications every day.

 
KTVQ.com reports that Olsen was aboard a tugboat off Hawaii when he was exposed to biological and chemical weapons testing in 1964 and ’65.  Olsen was part of Project SHAD, the Shipboard Hazard and Defense program, which ran from 1962 to ’74.  The declassified information could determine the toxic substance, severity of the exposure and risks of exposure