SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SJM 8014

               As Passed Senate, April 10, 1997

Brief Description:  Requesting that the cause of Gulf War syndrome be fully and expeditiously investigated.

Sponsors:  Senators Patterson, Oke, Swecker, Roach, Heavey, McDonald, Swanson and Brown.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  4/3/97 [DP].

Passed Senate, 4/10/97, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Hale, Vice Chair; Anderson, Haugen, Horn, Patterson and Swanson.

Staff:   Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  In 1990-1991, nearly 700,000 United States troops were deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield/Storm.  Since returning to the United States, at least 70,000 Gulf War veterans have reported a variety of debilitating, chronic illnesses such as memory loss, fatigue, diarrhea, and insomnia, and no cause for this Gulf War syndrome has yet been determined.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature respectfully prays that the President and the Department of Defense will continue to take all necessary steps to assure that the cause of the illnesses is fully and expeditiously investigated and that appropriate resources are devoted to diagnosing and treating veterans suffering from the Gulf War syndrome.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Testimony For:  This is the appropriate and honorable thing to do.  These veterans deserve care and treatment. 

Testimony Against:  None. 

Testified:  Senator Patterson, prime sponsor.