I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4586
To provide for the issuance of a congressional gold medal to persons who,
while members of the Armed Forces, participated in an activity resulting
in risk of exposure to nuclear radiation.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 16, 1998
Mr. REDMOND introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Banking and Financial Services, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on National Security, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To provide for the issuance of a congressional gold medal
to persons who, while members of the Armed Forces,
participated in an activity resulting in risk of exposure
to nuclear radiation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nuclear Veterans
Decoration Act’’.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL FOR VETERANS EXPOSED
TO NUCLEAR RADIATION WHILE MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to
commemorate the sacrifices made and service rendered to
the United States by those veterans of the Armed Forces
of the United States who were exposed to nuclear radi-
ation while serving in the Armed Forces.
(b) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of
the Senate are authorized jointly to present, on be-
half of the Congress, to persons certified by the Sec-
retary of Defense pursuant to subsection (e) a gold
medal commemorating the service of those persons
to the United States.
(2) ACCEPTANCE BY NEXT OF KIN.—The medal
may be accepted by the next of kin of any person
referred to in paragraph (1), on behalf of such per-
son, if the person is no longer living or is otherwise
unable to accept the medal.
(c) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—The Secretary of the
Treasury shall strike the gold medals authorized by sub-
section (b) with suitable emblems, devices, and inscrip-
tions to be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury.
(d) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—A person shall be eligible for
a gold medal under this section if the person, as a
member of the Armed Forces of the United States,
participated in a radiation-risk activity—
(A) while serving on active duty; or
(B) while performing active duty for train-
ing or inactive duty training.
(2) RADIATION-RISK ACTIVITY DEFINED.—For
purposes of this section, the term ‘‘radiation-risk ac-
tivity’’ means any of the following:
(A) On-site participation in a test involving
the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device.
(B) The occupation by the armed forces of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, during the pe-
riod beginning on August 6, 1945, and ending
on July 1, 1946.
(C) Internment as a prisoner of war in
Japan (or service on active duty in Japan im-
mediately following such internment) during
World War II that (as determined by the Sec-
retary concerned) resulted in an opportunity for
exposure to ionizing radiation comparable to
that of persons described in subparagraph (B).
(D) Any other activity that, as determined
by the Secretary concerned, resulted in an op-
portunity for exposure to ionizing radiation
comparable to that of persons described in sub-
paragraph (A) or (B).
(3) ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.—To es-
tablish the eligibility required by paragraph (1), a
person shall present to the Secretary of Defense an
application with such supporting documentation as
the person may have to support such person’s eligi-
bility or the eligibility of a next of kin.
(4) DETERMINATION
BY
SECRETARY.—The
Secretary of Defense shall determine, through the
documentation provided and, if necessary, independ-
ent investigation whether the person meets the cri-
teria prescribed in paragraph (1).
(e) CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall,
within 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
certify to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
the President pro tempore of the Senate the names of per-
sons eligible to receive the medal.
(f) NEXT OF KIN.—If applications for a medal are
filed by more than 1 next of kin of a person eligible to
receive a medal under this section, the Secretary of De-
fense shall determine which next of kin will receive the
medal.
(g) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The medals struck pursu-
ant to this section are national medals for purposes of
chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
authorized to be appropriated such sum as may be nec-
essary to carry out this section.
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