Before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Health
& Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

November 16, 1999

I. Introduction

Chairman, members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the National Gulf War Resource Center regarding the adverse health effects of pyridostigmine bromide, an investigational new drug (IND) given to as many as 250,000 U.S. soldiers during the Gulf War in 1991.

Each time humans engage in warfare, almost everyone suffers, even some who at first may appear to have survived without visible injury or illness. Amid the chaos of gunfire since the start of the Gulf War in 1990, some laws regarding human rights and medical experimentation have fallen short, fallen silent, or been disregarded. In hindsight, the history of Gulf War may show the well-intended use of PB pills backfired.

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War illness,

I would like to talk to you about some of the exclusions in some of the research programs. One of the main issues I have seen in some of the research is the exclusion of veterans with Gulf War illness, that are also diagnosed with depression, or with post traumatic stress disorder known as PTSD.

Many Gulf War veterans took the diagnosis of PTSD and depression early on, so that they could have some type of help from the VA to take better care of their families. They did this on the advice of their service officers. The service officers wanted to make sure the veterans was going to be able to take care of himself and his family. Even to this day, it is hard for a Gulf War veteran to be diagnosis with Gulf War illness and to receive a very high percentage rate.

RAC Statement - September 14,2008 Mr Chainnan and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to speak:.

My name is Jim Bunker, and I am here as President of the National Gulf War ResourceCenter. We Support the need to find biological markers of Gulf War Illness and related multi-symptom chronic illnesses, and to develop effective treatment, with priority on treating cognitive dysfunction.We would like to see more information released to the public, such as working together to improve the Gulf War Veteran Information System reports in the fuuter, to include data on Gulf War veterans in the VA system that were diagnosed with illnesses which may be either related to, or secondary to, undiagnosed multi-symptom illness.

Hearing: Gulf War Exposures, July 26, 2007Link to Hearing: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?NewsID=46


House Committee on Veterans' AffairsStatement of Anthony Hardie, Legislative Chair and National Treasurer, Veterans of Modern WarfareTestimony Before the Subcommittee on Healthof the House Committee on Veterans' AffairsJuly 26, 2007Mr. Chairman and Distinguished Members of the House Subcommittee on Health, thank you for holding today’s hearing on Gulf War Exposures and highlighting the enduring national significance of these issues.  It is truly an honor and a privilege to be here today, and I hope to help voice some of the concerns of the many who are not here to share in this privilege.

WRITTEN SUBMISSSION FOR THE RECORD for the JUNE 17-19, 2008

MEETING OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON GULF WAR VETERANS

by ANTHONY HARDIE

Thank you for the opportunity to provide this written submission. I am a 1991 Gulf War veteran myself with longstanding involvement on veterans issues, including in my professional life as a state veterans agency executive and a former Congressional aide. I currently serve as a volunteer Legislative Chair of the fledgling Veterans of Modern Warfare. Thank you most importantly for your willingness to serve on this historically significant body, the newly created Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans.

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some key issues that I hope you will consider during your 18-month charter.

Introduction. More than 17 years ago, as the nation sat down to dinner, President George H.W. Bush announced to a hushed nation, “Just two hours ago, allied air forces began an attack on military targets in Iraq and Kuwait.”

After months of deploying military forces from dozens of nations in a massive coalition troop buildup, much of America watched Operation Desert Storm unfold on their evening news – 3:00 a.m. local time on January 17^th, 1991 – decisively ending the many long months of the massed troops’ watchful waiting under Operation Desert Shield.

Hearing: The Implications of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Limited Scope of Gulf War Illness Research

Link to Hearing: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?NewsID=428
Anthony Hardie

Gulf War Veteran Member, Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses

Testimony Presented to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations,

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

July 30, 2009

Chairman Mitchell, Ranking Member Roe, and Members of the Subcommittee:

Thank you for inviting members of the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses to testify today regarding the implications of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ limited scope of Gulf War Illness research.  I am honored to fulfill the Subcommittee’s request to testify today as a Gulf War veteran regarding my own personal experiences, observations, and recommendations on these issues.

Testimony Montra Denise Nichols to the United States Senate Veterans Affairs
Committee September 25, 2007
Thank you Senators for having this important hearing today related to Gulf
War Illness and Research for the Gulf War Veterans of Operation Desert Storm 1990. It
has been since 2000 since your last hearing on this issue. During the intervening 7 years,
some small progress has finally been made in getting research moving in the right

Testimony of James A. Bunker

To the SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, EMERGING THREATS,

AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, Christopher Shays, Connecticut Chairman

June 1, 2004

Dear Committee Chair and members of the committee, on behalf of the Veterans Information Network (a grass roots organization of Kansas and Missouri Veterans) and myself, I would like to thank you for giving me time to address you about the issues of Gulf War illness and research problems.

First, let met take a moment to briefly provide background about my involvement and interest in Persian Gulf Illness.

I deployed to the Gulf War with the Fourth Battalion – Fifth Field Artillery Regiment as a First Lieutenant, stationed at Fort Riley Kansas.  While in the war zone, the Big Red One blew up a large Iraqi ammunition storage area. At the time of this demolition, I became ill.  I was treated for all of the classic symptoms of nerve agent poisoning, including convulsions.  Then, I was given the antidote for the nerve agent and medically evacuated.  Over time I completely lost the use of my arms and hands.  I have recovered some use in them, although some numbness, weakness, and tingling continues.  The problems I have with my legs have subsequently been identified as a problem with my sciatic nerve and often require the use of crutches.  Although I have had an abnormal EEG, it is not considered to be seizure activity. Additionally, I deal with headaches and cognitive dysfunction during the day. All of these greatly limit my activities and contribute to my desire to ensure that this issue is addressed and a cure is found.

Prepared Statement of Cheyne Worley President, Board of Directors National Gulf War Resource Center
Before the Subcommittee on Health
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
U.S. House of Representatives Hearing on Gulf War Exposures July 26, 2007

Testimony of National Gulf War Resource Center, July 26, 2007

Chairman Michaud and members of the subcommittee on health, the National Gulf War
Resource Center appreciates the opportunity to submit a written statement for the record
regarding your hearing today on "Gulf War Exposures."
The NGWRC is a non-profit organization based in Kansas City, Kansas, focusing on issues
related to Gulf War illnesses. We have testified regularly before the House Veterans' Affairs
Committee since 1995, when we were first formed in Washington, DC.