Just smarting from North Korean Nuclear test, the U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a resolution designating October 30, 2009, a national day of remembrance for uranium and nuclear weapons workers who served their country during the Cold War Era. The House is expected to pass a companion resolution.

During the Cold War, more than half a million people worked to build the U.S. arsenal of nuclear weapons. In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed an act to compensate people who had been harmed. The Department of Labor program gives cash and medical aid to workers who became ill after being exposed to radiation or toxic substances.

Since 2000, the program has paid $4 billion to 42,000 workers and their survivors. But Labor Department statistics show three out of four applicants have been denied.

The program covers 318 facilities in 37 states. Many facilities have high levels of exposure and sickness, however, significant exposure has happened for uranium workers in the 4 corners area, and nuclear workers in OH, TN, and CO.

Cold War Patriots, a non-profit organization advocating for nuclear weapons complex workers, launched a campaign to honor workers in March 2009. Cold War Patriots organized volunteers who traveled the country with a 40-foot petition and held public awareness events at nuclear weapons complex sites.