US Congressman Eni Faleomavaega has advised Vietnam victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin to patiently wait and held the US Government responsible for its erroneous acts. Reportedly, the second hearing on Agent Orange, or the defoliants which the US army used in the war in Vietnam,will take place on June 4th in Washington, D.C. The hearing held by the Subcommitee on Asia-Pacific and Global Affairs under the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives is aimed at collecting more information on the consequences of the defoliant on human beings as well as proposing several solutions to the US Administration. The US Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, a Vietnam veteran and head of the Subcommittee on Asia-Pacific and Global Affairs, said in the history of the House of Representatives, the subcommittee is the first to hold these two types of hearings. The question we would like to draw attention to is the reason whythis happened 40 years ago, itneeds to be re-considered. Eni … [Read more...] about US House of Representatives to hold second hearing on Agent Orange
Washington state house of representatives
Washington state governor to sign gay marriage bill Monday
Governor Christine Gregoire plans on Monday to sign newly passed legislation legalizing gay marriage in Washington state, making it the seventh U.S. state to recognize same-sex nuptials, her office said on Thursday. A statehouse signing ceremony in Olympia, Washington's capital, was slated for 11:30 a.m. local time on Monday (1930 GMT). The bill won final legislative approval from the state House of Representatives on Wednesday by a vote of 55-43. The measure will not take effect before early June. Opponents have vowed to seek its repeal at the polls in November, but they cannot begin collecting signatures for a petition to overturn the measure by referendum until it is signed into law. House approval of the Senate-passed bill came a day after a federal appeals court handed gay rights advocates a legal victory in California by declaring a voter-approved gay marriage ban in that state to be unconstitutional. Democrats, who control both legislative chambers in Olympia, accounted … [Read more...] about Washington state governor to sign gay marriage bill Monday
Deep scars but hope of renewal a year after deadly Washington state mudslide
A year after a mudslide sent a wall of debris onto the fields around Don Young's house in the shadow of the Cascade Mountains in Washington state, killing many of his neighbors, grass is finally sprouting again. But Young continues to clear his fields of debris, such as home siding and insulation, that is a bitter reminder of the tragedy last March 22, when a rain-soaked hillside collapsed near Oso, about 60 miles (97 kms) northeast of Seattle, killing 43 people. "We should get growth this spring so we don't have to see this scar we've been looking at," Young, 55, said as he recalled watching the approaching torrent. "You don't want to keep re-living the damn thing, you know?" Even as the land recovers, many of those affected by the mudslide say their nerves continue to be jangled by unresolved lawsuits, pending legislation, difficulties accessing relief funds and a parade of disaster site gawkers and profiteers. Amid an anniversary weekend of prayers, commemorations and a solemn … [Read more...] about Deep scars but hope of renewal a year after deadly Washington state mudslide
Six tanks at Hanford nuclear site in Washington state leaking
Six underground tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation on the Columbia River in southern Washington state are leaking radioactive waste, but there is no immediate risk to public health, Governor Jay Inslee said on Friday. Inslee said he was informed of one leaking tank at the decommissioned nuclear weapons plant last week by outgoing U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu - but was told by Chu on Friday that radioactive waste was seeping out of a total of six tanks. "There is no immediate or near-term health risk associated with these newly discovered leaks, which are more than 5 miles from the Columbia River," Inslee said in a statement released by his office. "But nonetheless this is disturbing news for all Washingtonians." The governor said Chu told him that his department initially missed the other five leaking single-shell tanks because staff there did not adequately analyze data it had. "This certainly raises serious questions about the integrity of all 149 … [Read more...] about Six tanks at Hanford nuclear site in Washington state leaking
US House passes bill hampering Viet Nam development, relations
Outlook (21-09-2007) US House passes bill hampering Viet Nam development, relations by Viet Hung The US House of Representatives made another wrong decision against Viet Nam on Tuesday when it ratified legal document H.R. 3096. The world is now interactive and interconnected but it is unacceptable for the legislature of one country to threaten sanctions against another in response to the latter's internal affairs. But it was not a big surprise that Christopher Smith, Republican, wrote the offending legislation because he has been a vocal critic of Viet Nam. … [Read more...] about US House passes bill hampering Viet Nam development, relations