Kennedy to Host Attleboro Meeting on Former TI Employees' Cancer

U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, whose 4th district includes Attleboro, and the Department of Labor will host a town hall-style meeting May 3 for employees of this city's former Texas Insturments plant who may have developed cancer or other health problems because of exposure to radioactive material.

The decision to hold the meeting comes after articles appeared in The Sun Chronicle earlier this year detailing how a large number of former employees suffering from cancer were receiving medical benefits through a DOL program. However, many others had not been informed about this service, the newspaper reported.

Kennedy brought up the issue to TI CEO Richard Templeton in February during a congressional hearing on science and technology. Since then, "the congressman has been working with Texas Instruments, DOL and the Department of Energy to ensure outreach efforts are improved," according to a press release on Kennedy's website.

"This town hall is a critical step in ensuring former TI employees and their families know that help is available," said Kennedy in the press release. 

He continued, "The human cost of this country/s nuclear development in the '50s and '60s is not unique to Texas Instruments or to Attleboro. But I do believe that we have a responsibility to the men and women we put in harm's way. While we can't take back the exposure to radioactive and toxic material that so many suffered, what we can do is absolutely everything in our power to ease their pain today."

The meeting will take place at Attleboro's Bristol Community College campus, located at 11 Field St., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.