SEC. 5. SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED 
STATES FOR CERTAIN RESIDENTS OF THE IS-
LAND OF VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An individual shall be awarded 
$10,000 for a claim made under this section if such indi-
vidual— 
(1) can demonstrate that he or she was a resi-
dent on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, during 
or after the Department of the Navy’s usage of 
chemical weapons, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals 
for military training operations on the island; and 
(2) filed a claim on or before the date of the 
enactment of this Act against the United States 
Government for personal injury, including illness or 
death arising from such usage of such weapons, 
chemicals, and metals. 
(b) ADDITIONAL AWARD AMOUNTS RELATED
TO 
SPECIFIED DISEASES.—Any individual who— 
(1) meets the requirements under subsection 
(a); and 
(2) submits written medical documentation that 
he or she contracted a specified disease during or 
after the Department of the Navy’s usage of chem-
ical weapons, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals for 
military training operations on the island of Vieques, 
Puerto Rico, 
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shall, in addition to the amount awarded under subsection 
(a), be awarded $50,000 (in the case of an individual who 
is diagnosed with 1 such disease), $80,000 (in the case 
of an individual who is diagnosed with 2 such diseases), 
or $110,000 (in the case of an individual who is diagnosed 
with 3 or more such diseases). 
(c) APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL MASTER.—The Presi-
dent shall appoint a special master to resolve expeditiously 
any disputes between the Attorney General and an indi-
vidual with respect to the determination of an award 
under this section. 
(d) GUIDANCE.—The Attorney General may use as 
guidance the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (Pub-
lic Law 101–426) and any regulation prescribed to inter-
pret, implement, or administer such Act— 
(1) in determining whether a claim filed under 
this section meets the requirements of this section; 
(2) to establish procedures whereby individuals 
may submit claims for payments under this section; 
and 
(3) for any other reason that the Attorney Gen-
eral determines that such guidance is necessary, ex-
cept that the provisions of chapter 171 of title 28, 
United States Code (relating to settlements and 
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compromises of claims), shall apply to claims cog-
nizable under this section. 
(e) SOURCE OF AWARD.—A payment of an award 
made to an individual under this section shall be payable 
out of any moneys authorized for appropriation under sec-
tion 1304 of title 31, United States Code, as if a settle-
ment had been entered into between claimants and the 
Government. 
(f) RELEASE.—The acceptance by an individual of a 
payment of an award under this section shall— 
(1) be final and conclusive on the individual; 
(2) be deemed to be in full settlement of the 
claim described in subsection (a)(2); and 
(3) constitute a complete release by the indi-
vidual of such claim against the United States and 
against any employee of the United States acting in 
the course of his employment who is involved in the 
matter giving rise to the claim. 
(g) SPECIFIED DISEASE DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘specified disease’’ means any disease that is life 
threatening, chronic, or is related to heavy metals toxicity. 
Æ 
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