By Justin O'Brien
December 9, 2002

To date this year, 48 members of the House of Representatives have written individual letters to President Bush expressing their concern over the situation on the island-municipality of Vieques, Puerto Rico and requesting prompt official action from President Bush to guarantee the U.S. Navy's departure from Vieques by May 2003. Thirty'six of these Members of Congress have specifically requested an Executive Order from President Bush ending the use of the island-municipality for the exercises.

Former San Juan Mayor now Puerto Rico Governor Sila Calderon first raised the issue of Vieques with the U.S. Conference of Mayors during the presidency of Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb in October 1999. Webb later wrote to former President Clinton on behalf of the Conference in support of the mayor's position that the live-fire exercises terminate immediately and the two-thirds of Vieques used by the Navy be returned to municipal control. The Conference has policy on Vieques stemming from a 1970 resolution on the neighboring island-municipality of Culebra introduced by then San Juan Mayor Carlos Romero Barcelo. Similar exercises were being conducted at that time on and around Culebra. The Navy later left Culebra but continued the exercises in Vieques.

Joint Letter Calling For Action Previously Sent to White House

In March, 2001, 110 Members of Congress urged President Bush to order an immediate and permanent end to the bombing in Vieques in a joint letter, citing unacceptably poor health statistics, high unemployment, and chronic environmental damage. President Bush has verbally affirmed and reaffirmed his determination to end the Navy's use of Vieques, Puerto Rico by May 2003. The Navy has admitted using both napalm and depleted uranium shells in previous exercises on the island-municipality with many of the shells remain unrecovered. Information recently released by the Pentagon reveals that chemical and biological weapons were also used in past training exercises on Vieques.

Hispanic Caucus Seeks Clarification from White House, Denounces Risk to Civilian Residents

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, have also asked for an official expression by the Bush Administration as to a timetable and the transition plan to be undertaken by the U.S. Navy to finally end all training and military activities in Vieques, before May 2003, at the same time denouncing the use of chemical and biological agents in Vieques to which civilians were exposed, and expressing concern about the increase of cancer rates among residents. The Caucus is also demanding full disclosure by the federal government as to the use of dangerous materials in Vieques and the extent of the damage that these tests and exercises may have caused.