[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4703 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4703
To require research into the health consequences of the environmental
impacts of nuclear war, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 18, 2023
Ms. Eshoo introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require research into the health consequences of the environmental
impacts of nuclear war, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Health Impacts of Nuclear War Act of
2023''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) nuclear weapons explosions would have devastating
health impacts, including immediate radiation exposure, thermal
burns, and blast injuries;
(2) a large body of scientific literature suggests that the
impacts of wide-spread nuclear weapons explosions are likely to
extend well beyond the immediate effect of the explosions and
may include long-lasting and catastrophic environmental
effects, including--
(A) the generation of vast quantities of soot as a
result of firestorms generated by nuclear explosions;
(B) the injection of such soot into the
stratosphere;
(C) a significant reduction in sunlight reaching
the Earth's surface as a result of such soot, causing a
significant reduction in Earth's surface temperatures,
substantial changes to precipitation and ocean
circulation patterns, and a dramatic decrease in crop
and fisheries yields; and
(D) damage to the ozone layer as a result of such
soot, causing increased ultraviolet radiation at the
Earth's surface;
(3) such an environmental catastrophe could impact the
United States even if the nuclear weapons explosions were
outside the United States;
(4) the health consequences of such an environmental
catastrophe would be severe and long-lasting and may include--
(A) increased cancer rates as a result of higher
ultra-violet radiation levels or radioactive fallout;
(B) malnutrition as a result of decreases in
agricultural and fisheries productivity after an abrupt
reduction in sunlight;
(C) infectious disease spread due to deteriorated
public health concerns and compromised immunity;
(D) hypothermia, frostbite, and other consequences
of exposure to extreme cold; and
(E) other, cascading effects, such as consequences
of widespread damage to critical infrastructure;
(5) such health consequences may be even more damaging and
long-lasting than the initial impact of nuclear explosions, and
the prospects for recovery from such consequences are currently
unclear;
(6) such health consequences should be considered when
preparing all-hazards emergency plans as a component of
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats;
(7) the focus of existing Federal Government preparedness
and planning for nuclear threats has primarily been on
individual nuclear detonation incidents, and not on responding
to the long-term environmental and health impacts; and
(8) research into, and preparedness for, the health
consequences of the environmental impacts of nuclear war is of
critical importance to the national security of the United
States.
SEC. 3. HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF NUCLEAR
WAR.
Subtitle C of title XXVIII of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 300hh-31 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 2827. HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF
NUCLEAR WAR.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Environmental impacts of nuclear war.--The term
`environmental impacts of nuclear war' means changes to the
environment resulting, either directly or indirectly, from the
explosion of nuclear weapons, including --
``(A) the generation of vast quantities of soot as
a result of firestorms generated by nuclear explosions;
``(B) the injection of such soot into the
stratosphere;
``(C) a significant reduction in sunlight reaching
the Earth's surface as a result of such soot, causing a
significant reduction in Earth's surface temperatures,
substantial changes to precipitation and ocean
circulation patterns, and a dramatic decrease in crop
and fisheries yields;
``(D) damage to the ozone layer as a result of such
soot, causing increased ultraviolet radiation at the
Earth's surface; and
``(E) other impacts, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(2) Health consequences of the environmental impacts of
nuclear war.--The term `health consequences of the
environmental impacts of nuclear war' means adverse effects on
the physical or mental well-being of individuals resulting,
either directly or indirectly, from environmental impacts of
nuclear war, including--
``(A) increased cancer rates as a result of higher
ultra-violet radiation levels or radioactive fallout;
``(B) malnutrition as a result of decreases in
agricultural and fisheries productivity after an abrupt
reduction in sunlight;
``(C) infectious disease spread due to deteriorated
public health conditions and compromised immunity,
including due to malnutrition;
``(D) hypothermia, frostbite, and other
consequences of exposure to extreme cold; and
``(E) other consequences, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(3) Nuclear war.--The term `nuclear war' means military
conflict involving the detonation of multiple nuclear weapons.
``(b) Research Grants to Study the Health Consequences of the
Environmental Impacts of Nuclear War.--
``(1) Research and preparedness program.--The Secretary, in
collaboration with the Director of the National Institutes of
Health, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and
Response, shall develop and implement a 5-year research and
preparedness program, which may include activities carried out
by the Secretary, as well as grants, contracts, and cooperative
agreements awarded to eligible entities, to address the health
consequences of the environmental impacts of nuclear war.
``(2) Components of research and preparedness program.--The
program may include--
``(A) scientific study of the potential health
consequences of the environmental impacts of nuclear
war, including the longevity of such effects and the
prospects for recovery;
``(B) exercises and drills to understand possible
health system response to the environmental impacts of
nuclear war;
``(C) identifying and addressing capability and
capacity gaps for health system response to the
environmental impacts of nuclear war; and
``(D) developing countermeasures to combat the
health effects of the environmental impacts of nuclear
war.
``(3) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement described in
paragraph (1), an entity shall--
``(A) be--
``(i) a nonprofit entity;
``(ii) a nonprofit research institution; or
``(iii) an institution of higher education
(as defined in section 102 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965); and
``(B) submit an application to the Secretary, at
such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
``(c) Assessment and Recommendations by the Secretary.--
``(1) Assessment.--The Secretary shall conduct an
assessment of the ability of the health systems of the United
States to respond to the health consequences of the
environmental impacts of nuclear war, including--
``(A) an assessment of the possible health
consequences of the environmental impacts of nuclear
war;
``(B) an assessment of existing State and Federal
governmental preparedness and response authorities,
capabilities, protocols, and plans to respond to the
likely health consequences of the environmental impacts
of nuclear war;
``(C) an assessment of current countermeasures to
address the range of likely health impacts in the event
of environmental impacts of nuclear war;
``(D) an assessment of the current scientific
uncertainties relating to the environmental
consequences of nuclear war, their health consequences,
and their implications for preparedness;
``(E) recommendations for further scientific
research to address any uncertainties identified under
subparagraph (D); and
``(F) identification and prioritization of the most
critical preparedness and response gaps of the United
States to address the health consequences of the
environmental impacts of nuclear war.
``(2) Assessment report.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of the Health Impacts of Nuclear War Act of
2023, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives a report that contains the findings of the
study conducted under paragraph (1).
``(3) Coordination.--In carrying out the assessment under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall coordinate with the
following:
``(A) Each of the following heads of agencies or
departments (or the designees of such heads):
``(i) The Director of the National
Institutes of Health.
``(ii) The Assistant Secretary for
Preparedness and Response.
``(iii) The Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
``(iv) The Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs.
``(v) The Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy.
``(vi) The Secretary of Energy.
``(vii) The Under Secretary of Energy for
Nuclear Security.
``(viii) The Administrator of the National
Nuclear Security Administration.
``(ix) The Director of the Office of
Science of the Department of Energy.
``(x) The Secretary of Commerce.
``(xi) The Under Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere.
``(xii) The Director of the National Center
for Atmospheric Research.
``(xiii) The Secretary of the Interior.
``(xiv) The Director of the United States
Geological Survey.
``(xv) The Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency.
``(xvi) The Director of the National
Science Foundation.
``(xvii) The Secretary of Defense.
``(xviii) The Director of the Defense
Threat Reduction Agency.
``(xix) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff.
``(xx) The Secretary of State.
``(xxi) The Under Secretary of State for
Arms Control and International Security.
``(xxii) The Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Authority.
``(xxiii) The Secretary of Agriculture.
``(xxiv) The Secretary of Homeland
Security.
``(B) other stakeholders, as the Secretary
determines appropriate.''.
SEC. 4. SCOPE OF NUCLEAR THREATS.
The Public Health Service Act is amended--
(1) in section 319C-1 (42 U.S.C. 247d-3a)--
(A) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(i), by inserting ``and
with respect to the health consequences of the
environmental impacts of nuclear war, as defined in
section 2827'' after ``nuclear threats''; and
(B) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by inserting ``and
with respect to the health consequences of the
environmental impacts of nuclear war, as defined in
section 2827'' after ``nuclear threats'';
(2) in section 319C-2(c) (42 U.S.C. 247d-3b), by inserting
``and with respect to the health consequences of the
environmental impacts of nuclear war, as defined in section
2827'' after ``nuclear threats'';
(3) in section 319C-3(c)(1) (42 U.S.C. 247d-3c(c)(1)), by
inserting ``and with respect to the health consequences of the
environmental impacts of nuclear war, as defined in section
2827'' after ``infectious diseases'';
(4) in section 319F(d)(3)(A) (42 U.S.C. 247d-6(d)(3)(A)),
by inserting ``and with respect to the health consequences of
the environmental impacts of nuclear war, as defined in section
2827'' after ``infectious diseases'';
(5) in section 319L(c)(4)(F)(i) (42 U.S.C. 247d-
7e(c)(4)(F)(i)), by inserting ``and with respect to the health
consequences of the environmental impacts of nuclear war, as
defined in section 2827'' after ``infectious diseases'';
(6) in section 2801(d)(3) (42 U.S.C. 300hh(d)(3)), by
inserting ``and with respect to the health consequences of the
environmental impacts of nuclear war, as defined in section
2827'' before the semicolon;
(7) in section 2811 (42 U.S.C. 300hh-10)--
(A) in subsection (b)(4)(J)(i), in the matter
preceding subclause (I), by inserting ``and with
respect to the health consequences of the environmental
impacts of nuclear war, as defined in section 2827''
after ``infectious diseases'';
(B) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting ``,
including the health consequences of the environmental
impacts of nuclear war, as defined in section 2827''
after ``nuclear threats''; and
(C) in subsection (d)(2)(A), by inserting ``,
including with respect to the health consequences of
the environmental impacts of nuclear war, as defined in
section 2827,'' after ``Nation''; and
(8) in section 2811-1(c) (1)(A)(42 U.S.C. 300hh-
10a(c)(1)(A)), by inserting ``and with respect to the health
consequences of the environmental impacts of nuclear war, as
defined in section 2827'' after ``infectious diseases''.
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