"...Congressional officials ... discuss concerns about the irradiated mail"

["Doug Huffman" <dhuffman@awod.com>]

CAP HILL MAIL-HANDLER BLEEDING FROM NOSE AND EARS

Wed Jan 30 2002 17:16:19 ET | RollCall Posted on 1/30/02 7:35 PM Eastern by

Nachum



Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) on Wednesday sent a letter to Senate

Sergeant-at-Arms Alfonso Lenhardt asking for a full accounting of the health

of staffers "who have returned to the Hart Senate Office Building and other

parts of the Capitol complex."

Grassley's inquiry was sparked by growing concerns among House and Senate

aides about both the safety of the anthrax-cleansed Hart Building and the

impact of irradiated mail, reports ROLL CALL's Ed Henry.



A Senate source said that Congressional officials are planning a joint

House-Senate meeting for office managers on Thursday to discuss concerns

about the irradiated mail. Details are still being worked out.



Grassley noted that some Senate aides have complained of ailments after

returning to the Hart Building, which was closed for 96 days after an

anthrax-laced letter was opened in Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle's

(D-S.D.) personal office. Some aides have complained of watering eyes, sore

throats and headaches.



"How many staff members have complained to any Congressional entity --

including your office, the Capitol Health Unit, the Hart Health Unit, the

Office of the Attending Physician and any other entity -- of ill health

effects related to the Hart building clean-up?" wrote Grassley.



The Senator asked Lenhardt to "describe the steps you are taking to follow

up on the complaints and check their validity."



One House aide tells ROLL CALL that the staff assistant who handles the mail

in her office has had bleeding from his nose and ears.



"Not from blowing his nose," she stressed. "When he handles the mail, [his

nose] just starts bleeding. Same with his ears."









The conspiracy of ignorance masquerades as common sense.







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