WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV sent letters Thursday to Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Robert Gates and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki asking what actions the DoD and VA are taking to assist West Virginia National Guard soldiers who were potentially exposed to toxic levels of Sodium Dichromate in Basra, Iraq.

In November 2008, the Department of Defense notified the West Virginia National Guard of the possibility of potential exposure to Sodium Dichromate while the National Guard was deployed to Basra in 2003.

In his letter to Secretary Gates, Senator Rockefeller wrote:

“I would like to know what action the DoD is taking to contact the veterans that were potentially exposed in order to ensure they receive the necessary health assessments and health care if they were exposed. I am concerned about the delay in finding these military personnel and providing health assessments. I further request a full explanation of the Basra exposure; the DoD's practices, generally and in this case, to prevent toxic exposure; and the DoD's efforts to find, alert, and care for our veterans.”

In his letter to Secretary Shinseki, Senator Rockefeller wrote:

“Of the 150 soldiers potentially exposed, only about 50 are still in the West Virginia National Guard. For that reason, West Virginia officials are continuing efforts to contact the servicemembers that have separated…I would like to know what actions the VA is taking to work with the DoD to contact the veterans that were potentially exposed in order to ensure they receive the necessary health assessments and health care if they were exposed.”