Schatz-Case Legislation To Study Health Impacts Of Red Hill Water Contamination Included In National Defense Bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) today secured the inclusion of several provisions to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including bipartisan legislation to collect data, study, and help better understand the health impacts of those exposed to water contamination from the Red Hill fuel leak. The Schatz-Case provision is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) in the Senate and U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai‘i) in the House of Representatives.

“People who were exposed to toxic fuel from this leak should know what kind of impact that might have on their long-term health and what kind of additional federal help they can get,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. “This study will give doctors, public health experts, and those affected by the leak a better understanding of what that kind of exposure can do to someone’s health.”

“The potential health impacts of this crisis remain one of my highest priorities,” said Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. “To address these concerns, this year’s NDAA also directs the government to track the health implications of fuel leaks from Red Hill for members of the armed forces and their dependents. These actions must be done in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawai‘i Department of Health to ensure a holistic and unified approach that documents and ultimately address illnesses affecting service members, dependents and civilians.”

The bipartisan Red Hill Health Impact Act would require the Department of Defense to work with health experts to conduct a study to assess the health impacts of water contamination among those exposed to the Red Hill fuel leak and annually report on their findings in consultation with the impacted community. The bill also requires DoD to work with the State of Hawai‘i, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other federal agencies to help identify any additional resources those impacted may have access to. 

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