Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act

Bill: 118-s-3853
Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced: 2024-02-29 in the Senate
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Arizona
Cancer
Civil actions and liability
Colorado
Department of Justice
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Education programs funding
Environmental health
Government information and archives
Government liability
Government trust funds
Guam
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health care costs and insurance
Higher education
Idaho
Medical research
Military history
Mining
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Nuclear weapons
Oregon
Personnel records
Public contracts and procurement
Radiation
Research administration and funding
South Dakota
Texas
U.S. territories and protectorates
Utah
Washington State
Worker safety and health
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2024-03-07
text: 

Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act

This bill reauthorizes and expands programs that compensate individuals who were exposed to radiation during certain nuclear testing or uranium mining and who subsequently developed medical conditions, including cancers.

Under current law, compensation is payable to individuals based on requirements including the (1) dates when exposure occurred, (2) duration of exposure, (3) type of exposure, and (4) resulting medical condition. 

Among other changes to this program, the bill (1) extends the eligible dates when qualifying atmospheric exposure occurred, (2) authorizes compensation to individuals with combined work histories in uranium mining, (3) adds core drilling as an eligible mining occupation, and (4) increases the amount of compensation awarded to qualifying individuals. 

The bill also expands this program to compensate individuals located in specified areas in Alaska, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee associated with waste from the Manhattan Project and who subsequently developed specified types of cancer.

The bill extends until five years after this bill's enactment the statute of limitations for the filing of claims. 

The bill also expands eligibility under an existing occupational illness compensation program for former Department of Energy employees.

The bill also establishes a grant program for institutions of higher education to study the epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling among individuals without occupational exposure.

The bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report to Congress on the unmet medical benefits coverage for individuals who were exposed to radiation in atmospheric nuclear tests conducted by the federal government.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-03-11
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2024-03-11
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2024-03-08
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2024-03-07
text: Passed Senate under the order of 2/29/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 69 - 30. Record Vote Number: 75.
action_date: 2024-03-07
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate under the order of 2/29/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 69 - 30. Record Vote Number: 75.
action_date: 2024-03-07
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
action_date: 2024-03-05
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 336.
action_date: 2024-02-29
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2024-02-29
text: Introduced in Senate