(NewsNation) — U.S. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., is calling on the Trump administration to help seriously ill military veterans once stationed at Nevada’s Area 51 who say they cannot access government assistance.
Takano, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, credits a NewsNation report with bringing the issue to wide attention.
The veterans profiled in that story say they suffer from cancers and other conditions but cannot access benefits and medical treatment because the Defense Department won’t acknowledge their classified service at the secretive U.S. Air Force installation.
Government entities, including the Department of Defense, had no comment to NewsNation when asked about the Catch-22 scenario.
Exclusive: Area 51 veterans getting cancer as DOD denies they were there
“What I saw was disturbing. I am angered,” Takano said on “NewsNation Prime” on Saturday.
The congressman said the Trump administration could offer immediate help to the Area 51 veterans, who he says were exposed to toxic radiation and other harmful materials.
Takano said the Department of Defense could declassify their work, while the secretary of Veterans Affairs has discretion to add Area 51 veterans to a wider group of service members with a presumption of exposure to hazardous materials.
He said he hopes his House Veterans Committee will revive legislation to help Area 51 service members by convening a hearing and calling witnesses.
In the meantime, he tells the veterans profiled in NewsNation’s story to “keep fighting, keep hanging in there.”
“I am just very upset that you’re having to fight your own government,” Takano said.
