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COLD WAR ERA HUMAN SUBJECT EXPERIMENTATION Y 4,G74/7:C 67/2 Cold Uar ERA Hunan Subject Experine.. HEARING BEFORE THE LEGISLATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED THIRD CONGRESS SECOND SESSION SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 Printed for the use of the Committee on Government Operations ,.v« ''EBi S 1995 ^ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE ^'^'1l>1^|0|(^ 85-647 CC WASHINGTON : 1994 ForsalebytheU.S.GovernmentPrintingOffice SuperintendentofDocuments,CongressionalSalesOffice,Washington,DC 20402 ISBN 0-16-046470-6 COLD WAR ERA HUMAN SUBJECT EXPERIMENTATION Y4.G74/7:C 67/2 Cold Uar ERA Hunan Subject Experine... HEARING BEFORE THE LEGISLATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED THIRD CONGRESS SECOND SESSION SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 Printed for the use of the Committee on Government Operations / ''^^ ' 5 1995 ^ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE ^'^'10l^lC4ll> 85-647 CC WASHINGTON 1994 : ForsalebytheU.S.GovernmentPrintingOffice SuperintendentofDocuments,CongressionalSalesOffice,Washington,DC 20402 ISBN 0-16-046470-6 COMMITTEE ON GOVEIUSfMENT OPERATIONS JOHNCONYERS, Jr., Michigan, Chairman CARDISS COLLINS, Illinois WILLIAM F. CUNGER, JR., Pennsylvania HENRY A. WAXMAN, California AL McCANDLESS, California MIKE SYNAR. Oklahoma J. DENNIS HASTERT, IlHnois STEPHEN L. NEAL, North Carolina JON L. KYL, Arizona TOM LANTOS, California CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, Connecticut MAJOR R OWENS, New York STEVEN SCHIFF, New Mexico EDOLPHUS TOWNS, New York CHRISTOPHER COX. California JOHN M. SPRATT, JR., South Carolina CRAIGTHOMAS, Wyoming GARY A. CONDIT, California ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida COLLIN C. PETERSON, Minnesota DICK ZIMMER, New Jersey KAREN L. THURMAN, Florida WILLIAM H. ZELIFF, Jr., New Hampshire BOBBY L. RUSH, Illinois JOHN M. MCHUGH, New York CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York STEPHEN HORN, California THOMAS M. BARRETT, Wisconsin DEBORAH PRYCE, Ohio DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey JOHN L. MICA, Florida FLOYD H. FLAKE, New York ROB PORTMAN, Ohio JAMES A. HAYES, Louisiana FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma CRAIG A. WASHINGTON, Texas BARBARA-ROSE COLUNS, Michigan BERNARD SANDERS. Vermont CORRINE BROWN, Florida (Independent) MARJORIE MARGOUES-MEZVINSKY, Pennsylvania LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California GENE GREEN, Texas BART STUPAK, Michigan Julian Epstein. StaffDirector Matthew R. Fletcher. MinorityStaffDirector LEGISLATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY SUBCOMMTITEE JOHNCONYERS, JR.. Michigan, Chairman CARDISS COLLINS, Illinois AL McCANDLESS, California STEPHEN L. NEAL, North Carolina WILLIAM F. CLINGER, JR., Pennsylvania CAROLYN B. MALONEY. New York JON L. KYL. Arizona TOM LANTOS, California DICK ZIMMER, NewJersey CORRINE BROWN, Florida James C. Turner, StaffDirector Miranda G. KatsoyanNIS. Professional StaffMember CherylA. Phelps, Professional StaffMember Eric M. Thorson, Professional StajffMember Bennie B. Williams, CleHt Cheryl G. Matcho, Clerk Rosalind Burke-Alexander, Clerk L. Stephan Vincze, Minority ProfessionalStaff (II) CONTENTS Page Hearingheldon September28, 1994 1 Statementof: Barrett, Elizabeth, NewYoA,NY 53 Cole, LeonardA., Ph.D., professorofpoliticalscience,RutgersUniversity 131 Conahan, Frank C, Assistant Comptroller General, National Security and Internal Affairs Division, U.S. General Accounting Office, accom- paniedbyGlennD.Furbish, seniorevaluator 11 Confers, Hon. John, Jr., a Representative in Congress from the State of Michigan, and chairman. Legislation and National Security Sub- committ^: Openingstatement 1 Fites, Jeanne, Deputy Under Secretary ofDefense for Requirements and Resources 93 Gamble, Vanessa Northington, M.D., Ph.D., professor of the history of medicine, preventive medicine, and family medicine, University ofWis- consin SchoolofMedicine 138 Nishimi, Robyn Y., Ph.D., Senior Associate, Office ofTechnology Assess- ment 149 Olson, Eric, Ph.D., Frederick, MD 42 Osterman, Joseph, Ph.D., Director, Environmental and Life Sciences, Of- fice ofthe Director, Defense Research andEngineering 98 Parker, Michael A., Executive Director, U.S. Army Chemical and Biologi- cal Defense Command, AberdeenProvingGround 78 Rothman, David J., Ph.D., director, center for the study of society and medicine, college ofphysicians and surgeons, ColumbiaUniversity 112 Sabo, Hon. Martin Olav, a Representative in Congress from the State ofMinnesota 8 Soper, Gordon K., Ph.D., Principal DeputyAssistant Secretary ofDefense lorAtomicEnergy 62 Letters, statements, etc., submitted fortherecordby: Clinger, Hon. William F., Jr., a Representative in Congress from the State ofPennsylvania:R^paredstatement 4 Cole, LeonardA., Ph.D., professorofpolitical science, RutgersUniversity: Preparedstatement 135 Conahan, Frank C, Assistant Comptroller General, National Security and InternalAffairs Division, U.S. GeneralAccountingOffice: Prepared statement 15 Fites, Jeanne, Deputy Under Secretary ofDefense forRequirements and Resources: Prepared statement 94 Gamble, Vanessa Northington, M.D., Ph.D., professor of the histoiy of medicine, preventive medicine, and family medicine. University ofWis- consin SchoolofMedicine:Preparedstatement 141 Nishimi, Robyn Y., Ph.D., Senior Associate, Office ofTechnology Assess- ment: Preparedstatement 152 Olson, Eric, Ph.D.,Frederick,MD:Preparedstatement 47 Osterman, Joseph, Ph.D., Director, Environmental and Life Sciences, Of- fice ofthe Director, Defense Research andEngineering: Prepared statement 100 Parker, Michael A., Executive Director, U.S. Army Chemical and Biologi- cal Defense Command, AberdeenProvingGround: Information regardingAirForce sponsored LSD tests Ill Preparedstatement 82 Rothman, David J., Ph.D., director, center for the study of society and medicine, college ofphysicians and surgeons, ColumbiaUniversity: Pre- paredstatement 116 (III) IV — Page Letters, statements, etc., submitted fortherecordby Continued Soper, Gordon K., Pli.D., Principal DeputyAssistant Secretary ofDefense forAtomicEnergy: Information regardingnational radiationhelp-line numbers 77 Preparedstatement 65 Wellstone, Hon. Paul D., a Senator in Congress from the State of Min- nesota: Preparedstatement 6 APPENDDC Material submittedforthehearingrecord 171 May 1932, Leon Prodan, M.D., M.P.H., Dr. P.H. article from the Journal of Industrial Hygiene entitled "Cadmium Poisoning: II. Experimental CadmiumPoisoning" 171 Januaiy 1973, Arthur Spomer article from Atmospheric Environment entitled"FluorescentParticleAtmosphericTracer: ToxicityHazard" 195 Statement for the record by Roger Parloff, senior reporter for the Amer- ican Lawyer 199 Statement forthe recordbyElizabeth Barrett, daughterofhumanexperi- mentationvictim 204 COLD WAR ERA HUMAN SUBJECT EXPERIMENTATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1994 House of Representatives, Legislation and National Security Subcommittee OF THE Committee on Government Operations, Washington, DC. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in room 2154, Raybum House Office Building, Hon. John Conyers, Jr. (chairman ofthe subcommittee) presiding. Members present: Representatives John Conyers, Jr., Al McCandless, and WilHam F. CHnger, Jr. Also present: Representative Gary A. Condit. Subcommittee staff present: James C. Turner, staff director; Bennie B. Williams, clerk; and L. Stephen Vincze, minority professional staff, Committee on Government Operations. OPENmC STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN CONYERS Mr. Conyers. The subcommittee will come to order. To—day's meeting will examine a tragic chapter from the cold war era the many cases, where our government sponsored secret experiments on Americans in the name ofnational security. Last year, Secretary of Energy O'Leary revealed that during the cold war the government conducted widespread radiation experiments upon soldiers, school children, hospital patients, and other private citizens, many of whom had not volunteered to be experimental subjects. The radiation experiments are only part of the story. We have learned that during the cold war the Department of Defense and other government agencies also conducted chemical and biological warfare experiments on Americans, as well as tests with various drugs and incapacitating agents. Because of security concerns, subjects of the cold war era tests were often not informed that they were participating in an experiment, and in other instances were not fully informed of potential health risks. Including the radiation experiments, we have learned that nearly a halfmillion Americans were subjected to some cold war era tests. In addition to being secret, this national security research was often conducted on individuals who had little choice in the matter, including members of the military, prison inmates, hospital patients, and institutionalized individuals. In one case, we have evidence that in the late 1950's the Army Chemical Corps conducted a biological warfare test from an aircraft (1) flying over Detroit and dispersing particles of a cancer-causing compound. Although the Army assured us there was no likelihood ofinjury, I am deeply concerned about usin|^ our citizens as guinea pigs, no matter how safe the Army might thmk a test is. In other cases, the military and the CIA contracted with various universities to do research on the influences of psychochemical agents on combat troops. How did they accomplish this? They did it by administering LSD and other psychochemical agents to people who had no idea what had happened to them. They had become part ofan experiment without their knowledge or consent. Sadly, this chapter from the cold war is not over. Today, individuals who were injured in these experiments and their families are still trjdng to find out the truth about what happened, and to se- cure assistance from the government. After Secretary O'Leary's disclosures, President Clinton estab- lished a special advisory committee to review the radiation experiments and to re—commend remedial steps. But this body has only a limited mandate ^radiation experiments; it is not examining other potentially damaging cold war experiments on Americans. So this hearing is to begin an examination ofthe fiill scope ofthe cold war experiments, and to begin a process of trying to provide assistance to Americans who may have suffered injuries in them. The General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Con- gress, has been very helpful. We have also received cooperation from the Department of Defense. And we now have relatives of individuals who lost their lives in the tests who will tell about their families' experience. Finally, we have a distinguished panel, that will discuss the many troubling aspects of this sad chapter from our national history. Now, in addition to the radiation tests, the subcommittee will consider Army biological warfare tests using potentially carcino- genic compounds in 239 American cities between the years 1949 and 1956; atmospheric nuclear tests from 1945 to 1962 involving over 212,000 individuals; Naval Research Laboratory full body mustard âs exposures on 3,000 subjects; Army and Navy skin tests during the 1940's with blistering agents and ointments, 60,000 people involved; Army Chemical Corps tests with nerve agents and psychochemicals on 7,120 subjects; CIA program of drug testing and behavior control experiments during the 1950's on several hundred subjects. This hearing reads like a chapter from a science fiction novel. It is hard still for me to believe that all this occurred after World War II. It is a very sad chapter in our history, but one that needs to be revealed, because hundreds if not thousands of people are now coming forward. The only way we can make sure that tnis does not go on is to continue to expose every part of it, every plan, every diabolical strategy that was involved in these awful experiments. And this committee is determined to make sure thatjust that hap- pens. Before recognizing the chairman of the Budget Committee, Mar- tin Sabo, I am pleased to recognize Mr. Al McCandless, the ranking minority member from California, who is also winding up a very distinguished career in Congress as a leader on this committee. As one whose helpfulness has been very important to the legislative products of the committee, his absence in the next Congress will be soreMly missed. Mr. McCandless. Mr. McCandless. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today our committee addresses a topic of serious and tragic di- mensions: government-sponsored human experimentation during the cold war period. The value our Nation and society places on in- dividual human life separates us from the vast majority of nations in the world. In America, everyone's life deserves equal protection. The sanctity of human life in our culture is largely responsible for the hope that the United States historically has represented to the people around the world. The cold war, however, confronted our Nation and indeed the world with the prospect of complete annihilation. The fear and urgency of the time remains with those of us who lived through it. As we increasingly learn about some of the measures that our government undertook to fight and win the cold war, we realize what a high price our Nation and the brave citizens in uniform paid to prevail. It is also clear that regardless of the fear and urgency of the time, serious mistakes were made. Today's hearing will examine some of the tragic lessons and legacies of the cold war. We must indeed never forget the horrors posed by possible nuclear annihilation ofthe entire human race and the horror oflosing a single indi- vidual life, regardless ofthe purpose. Accordingly, Mr. Chairman, I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today and hope that they can help us prevent the future recurrence of the tragic mistakes that we experienced in the past. Thank you. Mr. CoNYERS. Thank you very much. Without objection, we have a statement from Bill Clinger of Pennsylvania that will go into the record, as will the statements of any other members of this subcommittee. [The prepared statement ofMr. Clinger follows:] WILLIAMF CLINGER,JR. 5thOtSTRICT,PiNHSnVANU GOVERNMENTOPERATIONS WASMMCTOMQ«I>CI NANKINGflC^BLlCANMCMBER {IS(O20r2U)*2«2uaSN-SBIo3a1oiws Congrew of tfje ®ntteb §^tatti PTUBRLAINCSPWOORRTKASTIAONND OiSTIliCtOfKti lôuit of iêprrgentatitieiS Sr*Sin(fBtCIoS4siIuLiAf2Tici3Li»iI-MPliSea7t7ri6fuitSOi aia0t)ington. SC 20515-3805 SLtasCuOlMcWOiMrurirlrroimfSoUmWwAaCtIihriaUtMsSoûlntc*i«sriON •OSiMTfCIUB4MISUIIOINC ASSISTANTREGIONALWHIP WAiiatMPAI63es (114)72ft.39IO Statement oftheHonorableWilliamF.dinger,Jr. SubcommitteeonLegislationandNationalSecurity September28, 1994 fromCaTlhiafonrkniyaou-,tMhre.lCeghaaciiremsaonf.thIecCerotladinWlyarcoanrceuronweitshthmaytwdiestsihnoguulidshnedevceorllfeoarggeute. humanTeoxdpaeyr,imweentawitlilone.xamCeirnteaionlnye,offorthtehomsoerceittirzoeunsblainngdltehgeaicriefsamoiflitehsewChooldsuWffaerreedraas-a resultofthesetests,nothingcanrecoupthepreciouslifethatwasharmedorlost. Asmy cusolalpeaargtuefrhoasmsmtoasttednsaotiwoenlsl,inthtehevawloureldw.eWAemersihcoualndsnpelvaecreloonseintdhiisviddiusatlinhguumisahninglifterasietts Inkeepingwithourconcernforthelivesofourcitizens,weshouldgobackand re-examineaftereverywarorarmedconfliawhatwedidandwhy,andwhatmistakes weremadethatcostlives. TheColdWarisnoexception. Accordingly,Iwelcometoday'shearingwiththehopeandexpectationthatwewill alljointogetherinaconstructiveefforttounderstandwhathappenedandwhatweare orshouldbedoingtodaytoensurethesametragediesarenotrepeated. ### THISSTATIONERYPftlNTgOONPAPERMAO€ OfRECYCLEDFIBERS