I 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5544 

To increase the understanding of the health effects of low doses of ionizing 

radiation. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 

Mr. BROUN of Georgia (for himself, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. 

JOHNSON of Ohio, and Mr. COLLINS of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 

Technology 

A BILL 

To increase the understanding of the health effects of low 

doses of 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. SHORT TITLE. 

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

5 Research Act of 2014’’. 

6 SEC. 2. LOW DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Department 

8 of Energy Office of Science shall carry out a research pro9 gram on low dose radiation. The purpose of the program 


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1 is to enhance the scientific understanding of and reduce 

2 uncertainties associated with the effects of exposure to low 

3 dose radiation in order to inform improved risk manage4 ment methods. 

5 (b) STUDY.—Not later than 60 days after the date 

6 of enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an 

7 agreement with the National Academies to conduct a 

8 study assessing the current status and development of a 

9 long-term strategy for low dose radiation research. Such 

10 study shall be completed not later than 18 months after 

11 the date of enactment of this Act. The study shall be con12 ducted in coordination with Federal agencies that perform 

13 ionizing radiation effects research and shall leverage the 

14 most current studies in this field. Such study shall— 

15 (1) identify current scientific challenges for un16 derstanding the long-term effects of ionizing radi17 ation; 

18 (2) assess the status of current low dose radi19 ation research in the United States and internation20 ally; 

21 (3) formulate overall scientific goals for the fu22 ture of low-dose radiation research in the United 

23 States; 

24 (4) recommend a long-term strategic and 

25 prioritized research agenda to address scientific reVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:05 Sep 27, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5544.IH H5544

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1 search goals for overcoming the identified scientific 

2 challenges in coordination with other research ef3 forts; 

4 (5) define the essential components of a re5 search program that would address this research 

6 agenda within the universities and the National Lab7 oratories; and 

8 (6) assess the cost-benefit effectiveness of such 

9 a program. 

10 (c) RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after 

11 the completion of the study performed under subsection 

12 (b) the Secretary of Energy shall deliver to the Committee 

13 on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep14 resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 

15 Resources of the Senate a 5-year research plan that re16 sponds to the study’s findings and recommendations and 

17 identifies and prioritizes research needs. 

18 (d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘low dose 

19 radiation’’ means a radiation dose of less than 100 

20 millisieverts. 

21 (e) PROHIBITION ON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.—Sec22 tion 977(e) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 

23 16317(e)) is amended to read as follows: 


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1 ‘‘(e) PROHIBITION ON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.—In 

2 carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary 

3 shall not conduct biomedical research.’’. 

4 (f) FUNDING.—No additional funds are authorized to 

5 be appropriated under this section. This Act shall be car6 ried out using funds otherwise appropriated by law. 

Æ 


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