Title: Expressing support for the designation of July 16 as "National Atomic Veterans Day".
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution acknowledges the important role of atomic veterans (i.e., veterans who participated in nuclear testing, were part of the military forces in Hiroshima or Nagasaki, or were held as prisoners of war near Hiroshima or Nagasaki). The resolution also supports the designation of National Atomic Veterans Day.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 687 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 687

Expressing support for the designation of July 16 as ``National Atomic 
                            Veterans Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 8, 2019

    Ms. Spanberger (for herself and Ms. Jackson Lee) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of July 16 as ``National Atomic 
                            Veterans Day''.

Whereas more than 200,000 veterans of the United States, in service during the 
        period between 1945 and 1963, participated in nuclear tests, served with 
        the United States military occupation forces in or around Hiroshima and 
        Nagasaki before 1946, or were held as prisoners of war in or near 
        Hiroshima or Nagasaki;
Whereas July 16 is the anniversary of ``Trinity'', the world's first detonation 
        of a nuclear device in Alamogordo, New Mexico on July 16, 1945;
Whereas the health of the atomic veterans and of many of the children of such 
        veterans may have been adversely affected by exposure to ionizing 
        radiation;
Whereas atomic veterans were not told of the hazards they faced from exposure to 
        ionizing radiation, often were provided with little protection from such 
        exposure, and were provided with no follow-up medical care or other 
        monitoring to determine the health consequences of such exposure;
Whereas many atomic veterans were prevented by secrecy laws or oaths from 
        seeking medical care or disability compensation from the United States 
        Department of Veterans Affairs (hereinafter referred to as ``VA'') for 
        conditions they may have developed as a result of radiation exposure;
Whereas in 1996, the United States Congress repealed the Nuclear Radiation and 
        Secrecy Agreements Act, freeing atomic veterans to describe their 
        military involvement in nuclear testing in order to file for VA 
        benefits;
Whereas atomic veterans may be eligible for free medical care from the VA and 
        compensation in the form of a partial or full service-connected 
        disability allowance, including potential payments to a surviving spouse 
        or children;
Whereas the National Association of Atomic Veterans was formed in 1979 to help 
        atomic veterans obtain medical care and assistance;
Whereas, on July 15, 1983, President Ronald Reagan did designate, in accordance 
        with Public Law 98-54, July 16, 1983, as ``National Atomic Veterans' 
        Day'';
Whereas the Public Law 98-54 designated the single day of July 16, 1983, as 
        ``National Atomic Veterans' Day'' and not in each succeeding year; and
Whereas individual States have designated July 16 in each year, as ``National 
        Atomic Veterans Day'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Atomic Veterans 
        Day'';
            (2) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
        calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
        National Atomic Veterans Day with appropriate ceremonies and 
        activities; and
            (3) acknowledges the important role played by the atomic 
        veterans in the defense of the Nation.
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