Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1681
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2023-05-18
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Latest action: action_date: 2023-05-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-05-18
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023</b></p> <p>This bill extends and expands eligibility for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program. This program compensates individuals who were exposed to radiation while employed in uranium mining operations and subsequently developed qualifying medical conditions.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill extends the fund that supports the program for the four years following the enactment of the bill. (The fund currently terminates on June 7, 2024.) It also transfers to the fund a specified amount of unobligated funding appropriated for the COVID-19 response.</p> <p>In addition, the bill expands eligibility for the program in multiple ways. Current law limits eligibility to individuals who were employed between January 1, 1942, and December 31, 1971, as uranium miners, millers, or ore transporters. The bill expands the program by (1) making those employed through December 31, 1978, and those employed as core drillers eligible; and (2) providing compensation for kidney cancers and other chronic kidney diseases to all individuals eligible for the program.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1681 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 18, 2023 Ms. Lummis introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act with respect to claims relating to uranium mining.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023 . 2. Claims relating to uranium mining (a) In general Subparagraph (A) of section 5(a)(1) of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act ( Public Law 101–426 ; 42 U.S.C. 2210 note) is amended to read as follows: (A) that individual— (i) was employed— (I) in a uranium mine or uranium mill (including any individual who was employed in the transport of uranium ore or vanadium-uranium ore from such mine or mill) located in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, or any other State for which the Attorney General makes a determination for inclusion of eligibility; and (II) at any time during the period beginning on January 1, 1942, and ending on December 31, 1978; and (ii) (I) was a miner exposed to 40 or more working level months of radiation or worked for at least 1 year during the period described under clause (i)(II) and submits written medical documentation that the individual, after that exposure, developed lung cancer, a nonmalignant respiratory disease, renal cancer, or any other chronic renal disease, including nephritis and kidney tubal tissue injury; or (II) was a miller, ore transporter, or core driller who worked for at least 1 year during the period described under clause (i)(II) and submits written medical documentation that the individual, after that exposure, developed lung cancer, a nonmalignant respiratory disease, renal cancer, or any other chronic renal disease, including nephritis and kidney tubal tissue injury; . (b) Transfer of funds For individuals who are eligible for payments described in subparagraph (A) of section 5(a)(1) of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act ( Public Law 101–426 ; 42 U.S.C. 2210 note), as amended by subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, $475,000,000 to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund established under section 3 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, out of unobligated amounts appropriated for purposes of coronavirus response under any of the following: (1) The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 ( Public Law 116–123 ; 134 Stat. 146). (2) The Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( Public Law 116–127 ; 134 Stat. 178). (3) The CARES Act ( Public Law 116–136 ; 134 Stat. 281). (4) The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act ( Public Law 116–139 ; 134 Stat. 620). (5) Divisions M and N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260 ; 134 Stat. 1182). (6) The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 ; 135 Stat. 4). (7) An amendment made by a provision of law described in any of paragraphs (1) through (6). 3. Reauthorization of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (a) In general Section 3(d) of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act ( Public Law 101–426 ; 42 U.S.C. 2210 note) is amended by striking the first sentence and inserting The Fund shall terminate on the date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of the Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023. . (b) Limitation on claims Section 8(a) of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act ( Public Law 101–426 ; 42 U.S.C. 2210 note) is amended by striking not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the RECA Extension Act of 2022 and inserting not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of the Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023 .