Project SHAD, or Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense, was conducted between 1962 and 1974 by the Department of Defense.

During Project SHAD, a number of weapons containing chemical and biological agents such as VX nerve gas, Sarin Nerve Gas and E. Coli were tested on unknowing military personnel.

A Government Accountability Office report (GAO-04-410) issued in May of 2004 concluded that a substantial number of veterans remain unaware that tests were conducted on them.

In a letter to the IOM, Thompson and Rehberg stated that the recent study of Project SHAD health effects was deficient because it failed to include information on key test participants, despite the fact that the names of many such participants were available. In light of this concern, they want the IOM to reexamine the study’s results.

“We can’t understand why a study of Project SHAD’s health effects on veterans wouldn’t include the very veterans that were used in the tests,” said Congressman Thompson. “These veterans deserve to know the truth about what these chemicals have done to their health. As a fellow veteran, I’m determined to make sure this study is done properly.”

“The veterans involved in the SHAD program deserve a thorough review of how these harmful chemicals may have affected them,” said Congressman Rehberg. “However, the work that’s been done so far just doesn’t cut it. Mike and I are sending a clear message that the valuable input these veterans can provide shouldn’t be taken for granted.”

In 2003, Congress directed the IOM to conduct a study of the long-term health effects on veterans exposed during Project SHAD.

The study, which was released in June 2007, failed to link Project SHAD to the health problems experienced by veterans exposed to those tests.

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told ya so!
written by smurf, February 29, 2008

reason number 3,952 joining the military is a bad idea!More often than not the enemy is located in washington DC, and they're using YOUR money to screw you!

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Mike can\'t understand
written by Donna Christopher, February 29, 2008

why project SHAD wouldn't include those vets actually exposed to these hazards in their study. Hello - what would you expect from this administration? Of course the released study showed no nexus - garbage in, garbage out. Mikey's getting pretty good at this righteous indignation stuff. And did any of you catch W's news conference yesterday and that magic moment when the reporter asked him about the effect gas being almost $4 a gallon and the economy? Bush The Oblivious had no idea and was incredulous at first at the suggestion of such a price. But its all good folks, moments later he cited his work on high gas prices as his excuse for failing to pay attention in some other area. And he's gotten pretty good with that oblivion stuff. I always appreciate bipartisanship in the incompetence of my government. Cumbaya ya'all

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