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1
SENATE RESOLUTION



2 WHEREAS, Depleted uranium is the matter left over when most 
3of the highly radioactive
types of uranium are removed for use 
4as nuclear fuel or nuclear weapons; and


5 WHEREAS, The United States Military uses tank armor and 
6some bullets made with depleted
uranium to penetrate enemy 
7armored vehicles; and

8 WHEREAS, The manufacturing of enriched uranium from 
9natural uranium used in reactors or
weapons leaves behind 
10"depleted" uranium; and

11 WHEREAS, Depleted uranium has 40% less radioactivity, but 
12the exact same chemical
toxicity as natural uranium; and

13 WHEREAS, When a projectile containing depleted uranium 
14penetrates a vehicle, small
pieces of the uranium can become 
15embedded in muscle and soft tissue; and

16 WHEREAS, Servicemembers exposed to depleted uranium may 
17have also inhaled or swallowed
small airborne particles of 
18depleted uranium; and

19 WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of 
 
 
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1Veterans Affairs, some veterans of the Gulf
War, Operation 
2Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New 
3Dawn may
have been exposed to depleted uranium as a result of 
4being in or near a vehicle that was hit by
friendly fire, 
5entering or being near burning vehicles, being near fires 
6involving depleted uranium
munitions, or from salvaging 
7damaged vehicles; and

8 WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of 
9Veterans Affairs, no health problems
associated with depleted 
10uranium exposure have been found in veterans exposed to it; and

11 WHEREAS, Many servicemembers who believed they were 
12exposed to depleted uranium have gone overseas
for a more 
13sophisticated urine test to detect for exposure; and

14 WHEREAS, Pfc. Aaron Barnes of Fulton County served in Iraq 
15for 26 months and became ill a year after his 2nd
deployment; 
16and

17 WHEREAS, Tests were performed which showed a large mass on 
18his kidney; he told doctors
at the Iowa City VA Hospital that 
19he believed it was a result of exposure to depleted uranium 
20during his deployments
in Iraq; after being told that the mass 
21was not a result of depleted uranium exposure, he was sent home

22without a biopsy or additional testing; after having the mass 
 
 
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1removed from his kidney, a biopsy showed a rare cancer
had 
2developed; and



3 WHEREAS, Pfc. Barnes began chemotherapy treatment 
4following the removal of the mass from his kidney; he passed 
5away on August 24,
2011, leaving behind
his wife, Mandy, and 2 
6children, Emma and David; and


7 WHEREAS, Servicemembers who believe they were exposed to 
8depleted uranium have had a difficult time in the
VA system 
9while being tested and treated for exposure; therefore, be it


10 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois 
12Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of 
13Veterans' Affairs to thoroughly study the effects of depleted 
14uranium exposure on Illinois servicemembers and veterans; and 
15be it further


16 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
17presented to the Director of the Illinois
Department of Public 
18Health and the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' 
19Affairs.