IIB 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5544 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 18, 2014 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources 

AN ACT 

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, 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

HR 5544 RFS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

3 Research Act of 2014’’. 

4 SEC. 2. LOW DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

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

6 of Energy Office of Science shall carry out a research pro7 gram on low dose radiation. The purpose of the program 

8 is to enhance the scientific understanding of and reduce 

9 uncertainties associated with the effects of exposure to low 

10 dose radiation in order to inform improved risk manage11 ment methods. 

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

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

14 agreement with the National Academies to conduct a 

15 study assessing the current status and development of a 

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

17 study shall be completed not later than 18 months after 

18 the date of enactment of this Act. The study shall be con19 ducted in coordination with Federal agencies that perform 

20 ionizing radiation effects research and shall leverage the 

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

22 (1) identify current scientific challenges for un23 derstanding the long-term effects of ionizing radi24 ation; 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

HR 5544 RFS

1 (2) assess the status of current low dose radi2 ation research in the United States and internation3 ally; 

4 (3) formulate overall scientific goals for the fu5 ture of low-dose radiation research in the United 

6 States; 

7 (4) recommend a long-term strategic and 

8 prioritized research agenda to address scientific re9 search goals for overcoming the identified scientific 

10 challenges in coordination with other research ef11 forts; 

12 (5) define the essential components of a re13 search program that would address this research 

14 agenda within the universities and the National Lab15 oratories; and 

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

17 a program. 

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

19 the completion of the study performed under subsection 

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

21 on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep22 resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 

23 Resources of the Senate a 5-year research plan that re24 sponds to the study’s findings and recommendations and 

25 identifies and prioritizes research needs. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

HR 5544 RFS

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

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

3 millisieverts. 

4 (e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 

5 shall be construed to subject any research carried out by 

6 the Director under the research program under this Act 

7 to any limitations described in section 977(e) of the En8 ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16317(e)). 

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

10 be appropriated under this section. This Act shall be car11 ried out using funds otherwise appropriated by law. 

Passed the House of Representatives November 17, 

2014. 

Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, 

Clerk. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS