I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 35 
To increase the understanding of the health effects of low doses of ionizing 
radiation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 6, 2015 
Mr. HULTGREN (for himself, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. SEN-
SENBRENNER, Mr. POSEY, Mr. BUCSHON, and Mr. CRAMER) 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. 
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 ‘‘Low-Dose Radiation 
Research Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. LOW DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Department 
of Energy Office of Science shall carry out a research pro-
gram on low dose radiation. The purpose of the program 
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is to enhance the scientific understanding of and reduce 
uncertainties associated with the effects of exposure to low 
dose radiation in order to inform improved risk manage-
ment methods. 
(b) STUDY.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an 
agreement with the National Academies to conduct a 
study assessing the current status and development of a 
long-term strategy for low dose radiation research. Such 
study shall be completed not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act. The study shall be con-
ducted in coordination with Federal agencies that perform 
ionizing radiation effects research and shall leverage the 
most current studies in this field. Such study shall— 
(1) identify current scientific challenges for un-
derstanding the long-term effects of ionizing radi-
ation; 
(2) assess the status of current low dose radi-
ation research in the United States and internation-
ally; 
(3) formulate overall scientific goals for the fu-
ture of low-dose radiation research in the United 
States; 
(4) recommend a long-term strategic and 
prioritized research agenda to address scientific re-
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search goals for overcoming the identified scientific 
challenges in coordination with other research ef-
forts; 
(5) define the essential components of a re-
search program that would address this research 
agenda within the universities and the National Lab-
oratories; and 
(6) assess the cost-benefit effectiveness of such 
a program. 
(c) RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after 
the completion of the study performed under subsection 
(b) the Secretary of Energy shall deliver to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate a 5-year research plan that re-
sponds to the study’s findings and recommendations and 
identifies and prioritizes research needs. 
(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘low dose 
radiation’’ means a radiation dose of less than 100 
millisieverts. 
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 
shall be construed to subject any research carried out by 
the Director under the research program under this Act 
to any limitations described in section 977(e) of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16317(e)). 
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(f) FUNDING.—No additional funds are authorized to 
be appropriated under this section. This Act shall be car-
ried out using funds otherwise appropriated by law. 
Æ 
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