SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON MISTREATMENT OF TROOPS’ REMAINS

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to a Washington Post report today that the remains of troops killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan were systematically deposited in a landfill near Dover Air Force Base.  This newest disclosure comes on the heels of recent federal investigations revealing “gross mismanagement” at the base.   

“I am left both shocked and sickened by this report. I cannot imagine what the families of our fallen service members must be feeling when they hear of this. While I understand that the Air Force has changed this policy and I appreciate Secretary Panetta’s comments on the matter, I urge him to hold accountable those responsible and apologize to all those families affected. This is not the kind of honor, respect, and dignity that these men and women deserved.”