I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4733 

To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide for a low-dose radiation 

basic research program. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 18, 2019 

Mr. POSEY (for himself, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. WEBER of Texas, and Mr. BABIN) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 

Science, Space, and Technology 

A BILL 

To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide for 

a low-dose radiation basic research program. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Low-Dose Radiation 

5 Research Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle G of title IX of the En8 ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16311 et seq.) is 

9 amended by inserting after section 977 (42 U.S.C. 16317) 

10 the following new section: 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 977A. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

2 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 

3 basic research program on low-dose and low dose-rate ra4 diation to— 

5 ‘‘(1) enhance the scientific understanding of, 

6 and reduce uncertainties associated with, the effects 

7 of exposure to low-dose and low dose-rate radiation; 

8 and 

9 ‘‘(2) inform improved risk-assessment and risk10 management methods with respect to such radiation. 

11 ‘‘(b) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—In carrying out the 

12 program required under subsection (a), the Secretary 

13 shall— 

14 ‘‘(1) formulate scientific goals for low-dose and 

15 low dose-rate radiation basic research in the United 

16 States; 

17 ‘‘(2) identify ongoing scientific challenges for 

18 understanding the long-term effects of ionizing radi19 ation on biological systems; 

20 ‘‘(3) develop a long-term strategic and 

21 prioritized basic research agenda to address such 

22 scientific challenges in coordination with other re23 search efforts; 

24 ‘‘(4) identify and, to the extent possible, quan25 tify, potential monetary and health-related benefits 

26 to Federal agencies, the general public, industry, reVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 Oct 23, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4733.IH H4733

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1 search communities, and other users of information 

2 produced by such research program; 

3 ‘‘(5) leverage the collective body of knowledge 

4 from existing low-dose and low dose-rate radiation 

5 research; and 

6 ‘‘(6) engage with other Federal agencies, re7 search communities, and potential users of informa8 tion produced under this section, including institu9 tions concerning radiation research, medical physics, 

10 radiology, health physics, and emergency response. 

11 ‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the program, 

12 the Secretary, in coordination with the Physical Science 

13 Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology 

14 Council, shall— 

15 ‘‘(1) support the directives under section 106 of 

16 the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act 

17 (42 U.S.C. 6601 note); 

18 ‘‘(2) ensure that the Office of Science of the 

19 Department of Energy consults and coordinates with 

20 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 

21 the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental 

22 Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, the 

23 Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Depart24 ment of Homeland Security; 


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1 ‘‘(3) advise and assist the National Science and 

2 Technology Council on policies and initiatives in ra3 diation biology, including enhancing scientific knowl4 edge of the effects of low-dose and low dose-rate ra5 diation on biological systems to improve radiation 

6 risk-assessment and risk-management methods; and 

7 ‘‘(4) identify opportunities to stimulate inter8 national cooperation relating to low-dose and low 

9 dose-rate radiation and leverage research and knowl10 edge from sources outside of the United States. 

11 ‘‘(d) RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 180 days 

12 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

13 transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech14 nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

15 on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 4-year 

16 research plan that identifies and prioritizes basic research 

17 needs relating to low-dose and low dose-rate radiation. In 

18 developing such plan, the Secretary shall incorporate the 

19 components described in subsection (b). 

20 ‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

21 ‘‘(1) LOW-DOSE RADIATION.—The term ‘low22 dose radiation’ means a radiation dose of less than 

23 100 millisieverts. 


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1 ‘‘(2) LOW DOSE-RATE RADIATION.—The term 

2 ‘low dose-rate radiation’ means a radiation dose rate 

3 of less than 5 millisieverts per hour. 

4 ‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec5 tion shall be construed to subject any research carried out 

6 by the Secretary for the program under this section to 

7 any limitations described in 977(e). 

8 ‘‘(g) FUNDING.—For purposes of carrying out this 

9 section, the Secretary is authorized to make available from 

10 funds provided to the Biological and Environmental Re11 search Program— 

12 ‘‘(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

13 ‘‘(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

14 ‘‘(3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and 

15 ‘‘(4) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.’’. 

16 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con17 tents for subtitle G of title IX of the Energy Policy Act 

18 of 2005 is amended by inserting after the item relating 

19 to section 977 the following: 

‘‘977A. Low-dose radiation research program.’’. 

20 SEC. 3. SPENDING LIMITATION. 

21 No additional funds are authorized to be appro22 priated to carry out this Act and the amendments made 

23 by this Act, and this Act and such amendments shall be 


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1 carried out using amounts otherwise available for such 

2 purpose. 

Æ 


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