II

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 2365

To provide for a study of the health consequences for the spouses and

descendants of atomic veterans of the exposure of such veterans to

ionizing radiation.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

AUGUST 5, 1994

Mr. WELLSTONE (for himself and Mr. SIMON) introduced the following bill;

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To provide for a study of the health consequences for the

spouses and descendants of atomic veterans of the exposure of such veterans to ionizing radiation.

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

3 SECTION 1. STUDY OF HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR FAM4 ILY MEMBERS OF ATOMIC VETERANS OF EX5 POSURE OF ATOMIC VETERANS TO IONIZING

6 RADIATION.

7 (a) AGREEMENT FOR STUDY.—The Secretary of Vet8 erans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of De9 fense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
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1 shall seek to enter into an agreement with the Medical

2 Follow-up Agency of the Institute of Medicine of the Na3 tional Academy of Sciences under which agreement the

4 agency shall carry out the study described in subsection

5 (c).

6 (b) ALTERNATIVE ORGANIZATION.—If the Secretary

7 is unable within a reasonable period of time (as deter8 mined by the Secretary) to enter into an agreement with

9 the agency referred to in subsection (a) to carry out the

10 study required under that subsection, the Secretary shall

11 seek to enter into an agreement to carry out the study

12 with another appropriate organization or entity that—

13 (1) is not part of the Government;

14 (2) operates as a not-for-profit entity; and

15 (3) has an expertise and objectivity comparable

16 to that of the agency referred to in subsection (a).

17 (c) NATURE OF STUDY.—The purpose of the study

18 referred to in subsection (a) is to determine the nature

19 and extent, if any, of the relationship between the expo20 sure of veterans described in subsection (d) to ionizing ra21 diation and the following:

22 (1) Genetic defects and illnesses in the children

23 and grandchildren of such veterans.
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1 (2) Untoward pregnancy outcomes experienced

2 by the spouses of such veterans, including stillbirths,

3 miscarriages, and neonatal deaths.

4 (d) COVERED VETERANS.—Subsection (c) applies

5 to—

6 (1) any veteran who was exposed (as deter7 mined by the Secretary) to ionizing radiation as a

8 result of—

9 (A) participation while on active duty in

10 the Armed Forces in an atmospheric nuclear

11 test that included the detonation of a nuclear

12 device;

13 (B) service in the Armed Forces with the

14 United States occupation force of Hiroshima or

15 Nagasaki, Japan, before July 1, 1946; or

16 (C) internment or detention as a prisoner

17 of war of Japan before that date in cir18 cumstances providing the opportunity for expo19 sure to ionizing radiation comparable to the ex20 posure of individuals who served with such oc21 cupation force before that date; and

22 (2) any other veteran that the Secretary des23 ignates for coverage under the study.

24 (e) REPORT.—Not later than each of March 1, 1995,

25 October 1, 1995, October 1, 1996, and October 1, 1997,
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1 the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’

2 Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives

3 a report on the results of the study carried out under this

4 section.

5 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is

6 authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec7 essary to carry out the study required under this section.

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