Ken Feinberg says he hasn't seen any medical claims to our State Legislators; HB 389 Health Bill Pending in the House

WHAT??? - BP's Ken Feinberg says he hasn't seen any medically-related GCCF claims???

BP's Ken Feinberg says he hasn't seen any medically-related GCCF claims, when in reality, many Gulf Coast residents have filed oilspill medical-related claims. In the meantime, there's an important Health Bill on the House Floor to protect your medical rights that BP is trying to derail!

We the people of the Gulf Coast are responsible for getting the bills passed. We're the key as we have no highly-paid lobbyists like BP has. We need you and your voice NOW!

Have you, a family member or a friend filed a medically-related GCCF claim as a result of the oilspill and been denied? If so, we need to hear from you! Please post to the Southern Louisiana Shrimp Alliance Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_117873228234788 or, e-mail directly to: GulfPHP@yahoo.com.

If you'd like to see real testimonials from those impacted, click here: http://leanweb.org/our-work/community/public-health/testimonials-of-gulf-residents/testimonial-of-captain-louis-bayhi

154 Groups nationwide have demanded action from Federal officials including Waterkeeper Alliance, United Houma Nation, Association of Family Fishermen and 69 different Waterkeepers organizations, representing hundreds of thousands of community members, and internationally from Mexico and China. They have sent a letter to EPA Administrator Jackson and HHS Secretary Sebelius demanding action on the growing public health crisis on the Gulf Coast. More on the letter here: http://leanweb.org/images/stories/bpspill/Public_Health_Sign_on_Letter_to_Lisa_Jackson.pdf

BREAKING NEWS Feinberg spoke at a Joint Select Committee meeting on Oversight of the BP Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF), at the Louisiana State Capital in Baton Rouge today, June 6. In attendance, were Louisiana State House and Senate Reps who oversee the GCCF. They heard a presentation by BP’s Kenneth Feinberg discussing claims submission and processing. According to an afternoon report from the Associated Press (AP): Kenneth Feinberg, the BP Gulf oil spill claims czar and attorney overseeing payments from BP’s $20 billion fund, said “he hasn’t seen any claims filed suggesting that the spill cleanup has caused medical illnesses.” See AP story here: http://www.fox8live.com/news/local/story/Feinberg-says-no-claims-filed-on-cleanup-illnesses/3o4Jbfyqt0qP_ESE8OldwA.cspx

The people of the Gulf Coast deserve better than closed-door meetings between our officials and BP lobbyists when it comes to oversight of the GCCF and any oil-spill related matters. Their decisions in these closed door meetings are then blasted as a one-sided story via AP to Forbes, Houston Chronicle, WAFB-TV and WVUE-TV in an instant. Meanwhile, we have no justice or a VOICE.

If you are as outraged as we are, please call your State Representatives directly here:http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/H_Reps_FullInfo.asp and/or the State Senators list here: http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Senators/

The following is a specific list of Louisiana State Representatives and Senators who comprise this Joint Select Committee in charge of oversight of GCCF. To date, hundreds of people have filed health-related claims while Mr. Feinberg claims otherwise. Our officials need to know this. Please call and write to their offices to set the record straight.http://www.legis.state.la.us/boards/board_members.asp?board=924

CRITICAL HEALTH BILL THAT COULD SET THE TONE FOR THE ENTIRE GULF COAST: Mr. Feinberg’s meeting is timed to a critical Louisiana Health Bill to protect your rights pending on the House Floor. BP is so afraid of this bill that they sent their chief lobbyist, Mr. Feinberg, on their behalf during this legislative session. Here is the text of HB 389:http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=741030

Summary of HB 389: This is legislation to protect you and your families and other workers who were involved in the BP spill and clean-up. It mandates that all releases and settlements entered into by you be interpreted using Louisiana law and not the law from another state. What this means is that, if 10 years from now, someone gets sick from being exposed to chemicals released and used during the clean-up, that person will be able to bring a claim against the responsible parties even if the release signed says you have waived your rights to do so.

It is unethical for BP to pay final settlements and then refuse to be responsible for latent diseases that manifest themselves years after a settlement has been entered into. Despite a massive attempt by BP to kill the bill, it has passed the House Committee on Civil Law as of Wednesday night on an 11-2 vote.

It is important to note that HB389 was amended in committee and immediately goes to the House floor for a vote by all State R. BP and friends were successful in removing a provision that required BP and the responsible parties to provide medical monitoring to those who were exposed to the crude and dispersants used. Despite this setback, we have a chance to exercise our rights and have this issue debated further as the bill moves from the House to the Senate. The key is the bill is alive so the bill can be improved upon or amended before it goes to the desk of Governor Jindal.

Let's all assure that HB 389 is passed into law by contacting our elected officials today and having them voice their support for the legislation. We urge you to take it upon yourself to lobby or rally support for the bill. See list here: http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/H_Reps_FullInfo.asp