[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 243 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 243
To extend the period for filing claims under the Radiation Exposure
Compensation Act and to provide for compensation under such Act for
claims relating to Manhattan Project waste, and to improve compensation
for workers involved in uranium mining.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 24, 2025
Mr. Hawley (for himself, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Schmitt, Mr. Heinrich, Mr.
Kelly, and Mr. Crapo) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To extend the period for filing claims under the Radiation Exposure
Compensation Act and to provide for compensation under such Act for
claims relating to Manhattan Project waste, and to improve compensation
for workers involved in uranium mining.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Radiation Exposure
Compensation Reauthorization Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--MANHATTAN PROJECT WASTE
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Claims relating to Manhattan Project waste.
Sec. 103. Cooperative agreement.
TITLE II--COMPENSATION FOR WORKERS INVOLVED IN URANIUM MINING AND
INDIVIDUALS LIVING DOWNWIND OF ATMOSPHERIC NUCLEAR TESTING
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. References.
Sec. 203. Extension of fund.
Sec. 204. Claims relating to atmospheric testing.
Sec. 205. Claims relating to uranium mining.
Sec. 206. Expansion of use of affidavits in determination of claims;
regulations.
Sec. 207. Limitation on claims.
Sec. 208. Grant program on epidemiological impacts of uranium mining
and milling.
Sec. 209. Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.
Sec. 210. GAO study and report.
TITLE I--MANHATTAN PROJECT WASTE
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
(a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the ``Radiation
Exposure Compensation Expansion Act''.
SEC. 102. CLAIMS RELATING TO MANHATTAN PROJECT WASTE.
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (Public Law 101-426; 42
U.S.C. 2210 note) is amended by inserting after section 5 the
following:
``SEC. 5A. CLAIMS RELATING TO MANHATTAN PROJECT WASTE.
``(a) In General.--A claimant shall receive compensation for a
claim made under this Act, as described in subsection (b) or (c), if--
``(1) a claim for compensation is filed with the Attorney
General--
``(A) by an individual described in paragraph (2);
or
``(B) on behalf of that individual by an authorized
agent of that individual, if the individual is deceased
or incapacitated, such as--
``(i) an executor of estate of that
individual; or
``(ii) a legal guardian or conservator of
that individual;
``(2) that individual, or if applicable, an authorized
agent of that individual, demonstrates that the individual--
``(A) was physically present in an affected area
for a period of at least 2 years after January 1, 1949;
and
``(B) contracted a specified disease after such
period of physical presence;
``(3) the Attorney General certifies that the identity of
that individual, and if applicable, the authorized agent of
that individual, is not fraudulent or otherwise misrepresented;
and
``(4) the Attorney General determines that the claimant has
satisfied the applicable requirements of this Act.
``(b) Losses Available to Living Affected Individuals.--
``(1) In general.--In the event of a claim qualifying for
compensation under subsection (a) that is submitted to the
Attorney General to be eligible for compensation under this
section at a time when the individual described in subsection
(a)(2) is living, the amount of compensation under this section
shall be in an amount that is the greater of $50,000 or the
total amount of compensation for which the individual is
eligible under paragraph (2).
``(2) Losses due to medical expenses.--A claimant described
in paragraph (1) shall be eligible to receive, upon submission
of contemporaneous written medical records, reports, or billing
statements created by or at the direction of a licensed medical
professional who provided contemporaneous medical care to the
claimant, additional compensation in the amount of all
documented out-of-pocket medical expenses incurred as a result
of the specified disease suffered by that claimant, such as any
medical expenses not covered, paid for, or reimbursed through--
``(A) any public or private health insurance;
``(B) any employee health insurance;
``(C) any workers' compensation program; or
``(D) any other public, private, or employee health
program or benefit.
``(c) Payments to Beneficiaries of Deceased Individuals.--In the
event that an individual described in subsection (a)(2) who qualifies
for compensation under subsection (a) is deceased at the time of
submission of the claim--
``(1) a surviving spouse may, upon submission of a claim
and records sufficient to satisfy the requirements of
subsection (a) with respect to the deceased individual, receive
compensation in the amount of $25,000; or
``(2) in the event that there is no surviving spouse, the
surviving children, minor or otherwise, of the deceased
individual may, upon submission of a claim and records
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of subsection (a) with
respect to the deceased individual, receive compensation in the
total amount of $25,000, paid in equal shares to each surviving
child.
``(d) Affected Area.--For purposes of this section, the term
`affected area' means--
``(1) in the State of Missouri, the ZIP Codes of 63031,
63033, 63034, 63042, 63045, 63074, 63114, 63135, 63138, 63044,
63121, 63140, 63145, 63147, 63102, 63304, 63134, 63043, 63341,
63368, and 63367;
``(2) in the State of Tennessee, the ZIP Codes of 37716,
37840, 37719, 37748, 37763, 37828, 37769, 37710, 37845, 37887,
37829, 37854, 37830, and 37831;
``(3) in the State of Alaska, the ZIP Codes of 99546 and
99547; and
``(4) in the State of Kentucky, the ZIP Codes of 42001,
42003, and 42086.
``(e) Specified Disease.--For purposes of this section, the term
`specified disease' means any of the following:
``(1) Any leukemia, other than chronic lymphocytic
leukemia, provided that the initial exposure occurred after the
age of 20 and the onset of the disease was at least 2 years
after first exposure.
``(2) Any of the following diseases, provided that the
onset was at least 2 years after the initial exposure:
``(A) Multiple myeloma.
``(B) Lymphoma, other than Hodgkin's disease.
``(C) Primary cancer of the--
``(i) thyroid;
``(ii) male or female breast;
``(iii) esophagus;
``(iv) stomach;
``(v) pharynx;
``(vi) small intestine;
``(vii) pancreas;
``(viii) bile ducts;
``(ix) gall bladder;
``(x) salivary gland;
``(xi) urinary bladder;
``(xii) brain;
``(xiii) colon;
``(xiv) ovary;
``(xv) bone;
``(xvi) renal;
``(xvii) liver, except if cirrhosis or
hepatitis B is indicated; or
``(xviii) lung.
``(f) Physical Presence.--
``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the
Attorney General shall not determine that a claimant has
satisfied the requirements of subsection (a) unless
demonstrated by submission of--
``(A) contemporaneous written residential
documentation and at least 1 additional employer-issued
or government-issued document or record that the
claimant, for at least 2 years after January 1, 1949,
was physically present in an affected area; or
``(B) other documentation determined by the
Attorney General to demonstrate that the claimant, for
at least 2 years after January 1, 1949, was physically
present in an affected area.
``(2) Types of physical presence.--For purposes of
determining physical presence under this section, a claimant
shall be considered to have been physically present in an
affected area if--
``(A) the claimant's primary residence was in the
affected area;
``(B) the claimant's place of employment was in the
affected area; or
``(C) the claimant attended school in the affected
area.
``(g) Disease Contraction in Affected Areas.--For purposes of this
section, the Attorney General shall not determine that a claimant has
satisfied the requirements of subsection (a) unless the claimant
submits--
``(1) written medical records or reports created by or at
the direction of a licensed medical professional, created
contemporaneously with the provision of medical care to the
claimant, that the claimant, after a period of physical
presence in an affected area, contracted a specified disease;
or
``(2) other documentation determined by the Attorney
General to demonstrate that the claimant contracted a specified
disease after a period of physical presence in an affected
area.''.
SEC. 103. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.
(a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary
of Energy, acting through the Director of the Office of Legacy
Management, shall award to an eligible association a cooperative
agreement to support the safeguarding of human and ecological health at
the Amchitka, Alaska, Site.
(b) Requirements.--A cooperative agreement awarded under subsection
(a)--
(1) may be used to fund--
(A) research and development that will improve and
focus long-term surveillance and monitoring of the
site;
(B) workforce development at the site; and
(C) such other activities as the Secretary
considers appropriate; and
(2) shall require that the eligible association--
(A) engage in stakeholder engagement; and
(B) to the greatest extent practicable, incorporate
Indigenous knowledge and the participation of local
Indian Tribes in research and development and workforce
development activities.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible association.--The term ``eligible
association'' means an association of 2 or more of the
following:
(A) An institution of higher education (as that
term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) located in
the State of Alaska.
(B) An agency of the State of Alaska.
(C) A local Indian Tribe.
(D) An organization--
(i) described in section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from
taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; and
(ii) located in the State of Alaska.
(2) Local indian tribe.--The term ``local Indian Tribe''
means an Indian tribe (as that term is defined in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304)) that is located in the Aleut Region of the State
of Alaska.
TITLE II--COMPENSATION FOR WORKERS INVOLVED IN URANIUM MINING AND
INDIVIDUALS LIVING DOWNWIND OF ATMOSPHERIC NUCLEAR TESTING
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Radiation Exposure Compensation
Act Amendments of 2025''.
SEC. 202. REFERENCES.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this title
an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to or
repeal of a section or other provision of law, the reference shall be
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act (Public Law 101-426; 42 U.S.C. 2210 note).
SEC. 203. EXTENSION OF FUND.
Section 3(d) is amended--
(1) by striking the first sentence and inserting ``The Fund
shall terminate 6 years after the date of the enactment of the
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2025.''; and
(2) by striking ``2-year'' and inserting ``6-year''.
SEC. 204. CLAIMS RELATING TO ATMOSPHERIC TESTING.
(a) Leukemia Claims Relating to Trinity Test in New Mexico and
Tests at the Nevada Site and in the Pacific.--Section 4(a)(1)(A) is
amended--
(1) in clause (i)--
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ``October 31,
1958'' and inserting ``November 6, 1962'';
(B) in subclause (II)--
(i) by striking ``in the affected area''
and inserting ``in an affected area''; and
(ii) by striking ``or'' after the
semicolon;
(C) by redesignating subclause (III) as subclause
(V); and
(D) by inserting after subclause (II) the
following:
``(III) was physically present in an
affected area for a period of at least 1 year
during the period beginning on September 24,
1944, and ending on November 6, 1962;
``(IV) was physically present in an
affected area--
``(aa) for a period of at least 1
year during the period beginning on
July 1, 1946, and ending on November 6,
1962; or
``(bb) for the period beginning on
April 25, 1962, and ending on November
6, 1962; or''; and
(2) in clause (ii)(I), by striking ``physical presence
described in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i) or onsite
participation described in clause (i)(III)'' and inserting
``physical presence described in subclause (I), (II), (III), or
(IV) of clause (i) or onsite participation described in clause
(i)(V)''.
(b) Amounts for Claims Related to Leukemia.--Section 4(a)(1) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``an amount'' and
inserting ``the amount''; and
(2) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following:
``(B) Amount.--If the conditions described in
subparagraph (C) are met, an individual who is
described in subparagraph (A) shall receive
$100,000.''.
(c) Conditions for Claims Related to Leukemia.--Section 4(a)(1)(C)
is amended--
(1) by striking clause (i); and
(2) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i)
and (ii), respectively.
(d) Specified Diseases Claims Relating to Trinity Test in New
Mexico and Tests at the Nevada Site and in the Pacific.--Section
4(a)(2) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``in the affected area'' and
inserting ``in an affected area'';
(B) by striking ``2 years'' and inserting ``1
year''; and
(C) by striking ``October 31, 1958'' and inserting
``November 6, 1962'';
(2) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) by striking ``in the affected area'' and
inserting ``in an affected area''; and
(B) by striking ``or'' at the end;
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (E);
and
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) was physically present in an affected area
for a period of at least 1 year during the period
beginning on September 24, 1944, and ending on November
6, 1962;
``(D) was physically present in an affected area--
``(i) for a period of at least 1 year
during the period beginning on July 1, 1946,
and ending on November 6, 1962; or
``(ii) for the period beginning on April
25, 1962, and ending on November 6, 1962; or''.
(e) Amounts for Claims Related to Specified Diseases.--Section
4(a)(2) is amended in the matter following subparagraph (E) (as
redesignated by subsection (d) of this section) by striking ``$50,000
(in the case of an individual described in subparagraph (A) or (B)) or
$75,000 (in the case of an individual described in subparagraph (C)),''
and inserting ``$100,000''.
(f) Downwind States.--Section 4(b)(1) is amended to read as
follows:
``(1) `affected area' means--
``(A) except as provided under subparagraphs (B)
and (C), Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New
Mexico, Utah, and Guam;
``(B) with respect to a claim by an individual
under subsection (a)(1)(A)(i)(III) or subsection
(a)(2)(C), only New Mexico; and
``(C) with respect to a claim by an individual
under subsection (a)(1)(A)(i)(IV) or subsection
(a)(2)(D), only Guam.''.
(g) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia as a Specified Disease.--Section
4(b)(2) is amended by striking ``other than chronic lymphocytic
leukemia'' and inserting ``including chronic lymphocytic leukemia''.
SEC. 205. CLAIMS RELATING TO URANIUM MINING.
(a) Employees of Mines and Mills.--Section 5(a)(1)(A)(i) is
amended--
(1) by inserting ``(I)'' after ``(i)'';
(2) by striking ``December 31, 1971; and'' and inserting
``December 31, 1990; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(II) was employed as a core driller in a
State referred to in subclause (I) during the
period described in such subclause; and''.
(b) Miners.--Section 5(a)(1)(A)(ii)(I) is amended by inserting ``or
renal cancer or any other chronic renal disease, including nephritis
and kidney tubal tissue injury'' after ``nonmalignant respiratory
disease''.
(c) Millers, Core Drillers, and Ore Transporters.--Section
5(a)(1)(A)(ii)(II) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``, core driller,'' after ``was a
miller'';
(2) by inserting ``, or was involved in remediation efforts
at such a uranium mine or uranium mill,'' after ``ore
transporter'';
(3) by inserting ``(I)'' after ``clause (i)''; and
(4) by striking all that follows ``nonmalignant respiratory
disease'' and inserting ``or renal cancer or any other chronic
renal disease, including nephritis and kidney tubal tissue
injury; or''.
(d) Combined Work Histories.--Section 5(a)(1)(A)(ii) is further
amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' at the end of subclause (I); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(III)(aa) does not meet the conditions of
subclause (I) or (II);
``(bb) worked, during the period described
in clause (i)(I), in two or more of the
following positions: miner, miller, core
driller, and ore transporter;
``(cc) meets the requirements of paragraph
(4) or (5), or both; and
``(dd) submits written medical
documentation that the individual developed
lung cancer or a nonmalignant respiratory
disease or renal cancer or any other chronic
renal disease, including nephritis and kidney
tubal tissue injury after exposure to radiation
through work in one or more of the positions
referred to in item (bb);''.
(e) Dates of Operation of Uranium Mine.--Section 5(a)(2)(A) is
amended by striking ``December 31, 1971'' and inserting ``December 31,
1990''.
(f) Special Rules Relating to Combined Work Histories.--Section
5(a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Special rule relating to combined work histories for
individuals with at least one year of experience.--An
individual meets the requirements of this paragraph if the
individual worked in one or more of the positions referred to
in paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(III)(bb) for a period of at least one
year during the period described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(I).
``(5) Special rule relating to combined work histories for
miners.--An individual meets the requirements of this paragraph
if the individual, during the period described in paragraph
(1)(A)(i)(I), worked as a miner and was exposed to such number
of working level months that the Attorney General determines,
when combined with the exposure of such individual to radiation
through work as a miller, core driller, or ore transporter
during the period described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(I), results
in such individual being exposed to a total level of radiation
that is greater or equal to the level of exposure of an
individual described in paragraph (4).''.
(g) Definition of Core Driller.--Section 5(b) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (7);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) the term `core driller' means any individual employed
to engage in the act or process of obtaining cylindrical rock
samples of uranium or vanadium by means of a borehole drilling
machine for the purpose of mining uranium or vanadium.''.
SEC. 206. EXPANSION OF USE OF AFFIDAVITS IN DETERMINATION OF CLAIMS;
REGULATIONS.
(a) Affidavits.--Section 6(b) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(3) Affidavits.--
``(A) Employment history.--For purposes of this
Act, the Attorney General shall accept a written
affidavit or declaration as evidence to substantiate
the employment history of an individual as a miner,
miller, core driller, or ore transporter if the
affidavit--
``(i) is provided in addition to other
material that may be used to substantiate the
employment history of the individual;
``(ii) attests to the employment history of
the individual;
``(iii) is made subject to penalty for
perjury; and
``(iv) is made by a person other than the
individual filing the claim.
``(B) Physical presence in affected area.--For
purposes of this Act, the Attorney General shall accept
a written affidavit or declaration as evidence to
substantiate an individual's physical presence in an
affected area (as defined in section 4(b)(1)) during a
period described in section 4(a)(1)(A)(i) or section
4(a)(2) if the affidavit--
``(i) is provided in addition to other
material that may be used to substantiate the
individual's presence in an affected area
during that time period;
``(ii) attests to the individual's presence
in an affected area during that period;
``(iii) is made subject to penalty for
perjury; and
``(iv) is made by a person other than the
individual filing the claim.
``(C) Participation at testing site.--For purposes
of this Act, the Attorney General shall accept a
written affidavit or declaration as evidence to
substantiate an individual's participation onsite in a
test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear
device if the affidavit--
``(i) is provided in addition to other
material that may be used to substantiate the
individual's participation onsite in a test
involving the atmospheric detonation of a
nuclear device;
``(ii) attests to the individual's
participation onsite in a test involving the
atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device;
``(iii) is made subject to penalty for
perjury; and
``(iv) is made by a person other than the
individual filing the claim.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Section 6 is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)(C), by striking ``section
4(a)(2)(C)'' and inserting ``section 4(a)(2)(E)'';
(2) in subsection (c)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``subsection (a)(1), (a)(2)(A), or
(a)(2)(B) of section 4'' and inserting
``subsection (a)(1), (a)(2)(A), (a)(2)(B),
(a)(2)(C), or (a)(2)(D) of section 4''; and
(ii) in clause (i), by striking
``subsection (a)(1), (a)(2)(A), or (a)(2)(B) of
section 4'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(1),
(a)(2)(A), (a)(2)(B), (a)(2)(C), or (a)(2)(D)
of section 4''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``section
4(a)(2)(C)'' and inserting ``section 4(a)(2)(E)''; and
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection (a)(1),
(a)(2)(A), or (a)(2)(B) of section 4'' and inserting
``subsection (a)(1), (a)(2)(A), (a)(2)(B), (a)(2)(C), or
(a)(2)(D) of section 4''.
(c) Regulations.--
(1) In general.--Section 6(k) is amended by adding at the
end the following: ``Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments
of 2025, the Attorney General shall issue revised regulations
to carry out this Act.''.
(2) Considerations in revisions.--In issuing revised
regulations under section 6(k) of the Radiation Exposure
Compensation Act (Public Law 101-426; 42 U.S.C. 2210 note), as
amended under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall ensure
that procedures with respect to the submission and processing
of claims under such Act take into account and make allowances
for the law, tradition, and customs of Indian tribes, including
by accepting as a record of proof of physical presence for a
claimant a grazing permit, a homesite lease, a record of being
a holder of a post office box, a letter from an elected leader
of an Indian tribe, or a record of any recognized tribal
association or organization.
SEC. 207. LIMITATION ON CLAIMS.
(a) Extension of Filing Time.--Section 8(a) is amended--
(1) by striking ``2 years'' and inserting ``5 years''; and
(2) by striking ``RECA Extension Act of 2022'' and
inserting ``Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of
2025''.
(b) Resubmittal of Claims.--Section 8(b) is amended to read as
follows:
``(b) Resubmittal of Claims.--
``(1) Denied claims.--After the date of enactment of the
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2025, any
claimant who has been denied compensation under this Act may
resubmit a claim for consideration by the Attorney General in
accordance with this Act not more than three times. Any
resubmittal made before the date of the enactment of the
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2025 shall
not be applied to the limitation under the preceding sentence.
``(2) Previously successful claims.--
``(A) In general.--After the date of enactment of
the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of
2025, any claimant who received compensation under this
Act may submit a request to the Attorney General for
additional compensation and benefits. Such request
shall contain--
``(i) the claimant's name, social security
number, and date of birth;
``(ii) the amount of award received under
this Act before the date of enactment of the
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments
of 2025;
``(iii) any additional benefits and
compensation sought through such request; and
``(iv) any additional information required
by the Attorney General.
``(B) Additional compensation.--If the claimant
received compensation under this Act before the date of
enactment of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
Amendments of 2025 and submits a request under
subparagraph (A), the Attorney General shall--
``(i) pay the claimant the amount that is
equal to any excess of--
``(I) the amount the claimant is
eligible to receive under this Act (as
amended by the Radiation Exposure
Compensation Act Amendments of 2025);
minus
``(II) the aggregate amount paid to
the claimant under this Act before the
date of enactment of the Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of
2025; and
``(ii) in any case in which the claimant
was compensated under section 4, provide the
claimant with medical benefits under section
4(a)(5).''.
SEC. 208. GRANT PROGRAM ON EPIDEMIOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF URANIUM MINING
AND MILLING.
(a) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``institution of higher education'' has the
meaning given under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);
(2) the term ``program'' means the grant program
established under subsection (b); and
(3) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health
and Human Services.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a grant program
relating to the epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling.
Grants awarded under the program shall be used for the study of the
epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling among non-
occupationally exposed individuals, including family members of uranium
miners and millers.
(c) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the program
through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
(d) Eligibility and Application.--Any institution of higher
education or nonprofit private entity shall be eligible to apply for a
grant. To apply for a grant an eligible institution or entity shall
submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner,
and containing or accompanied by such information as the Secretary may
reasonably require.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2027.
SEC. 209. ENERGY EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS COMPENSATION PROGRAM.
(a) Covered Employees With Cancer.--Section 3621(9) of the Energy
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (42
U.S.C. 7384l(9)) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting
the following:
``(A) An individual with a specified cancer who is
a member of the Special Exposure Cohort, if and only
if--
``(i) that individual contracted that
specified cancer after beginning employment at
a Department of Energy facility (in the case of
a Department of Energy employee or Department
of Energy contractor employee) or at an atomic
weapons employer facility (in the case of an
atomic weapons employee); or
``(ii) that individual--
``(I) contracted that specified
cancer after beginning employment in a
uranium mine or uranium mill described
under section 5(a)(1)(A)(i) of the
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42
U.S.C. 2210 note) (including any
individual who was employed in core
drilling or the transport of uranium
ore or vanadium-uranium ore from such
mine or mill) located in Colorado, New
Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota,
Washington, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota,
Oregon, Texas, or any State the
Attorney General makes a determination
under section 5(a)(2) of that Act for
inclusion of eligibility under section
5(a)(1) of that Act; and
``(II) was employed in a uranium
mine or uranium mill described under
subclause (I) (including any individual
who was employed in core drilling or
the transport of uranium ore or
vanadium-uranium ore from such mine or
mill) at any time during the period
beginning on January 1, 1942, and
ending on December 31, 1990.''.
(b) Members of Special Exposure Cohort.--Section 3626 of the Energy
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (42
U.S.C. 7384q) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) and
inserting the following:
``(1) The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health
under section 3624 shall advise the President whether there is
a class of employees--
``(A) at any Department of Energy facility who
likely were exposed to radiation at that facility but
for whom it is not feasible to estimate with sufficient
accuracy the radiation dose they received; and
``(B) employed in a uranium mine or uranium mill
described under section 5(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 note)
(including any individual who was employed in core
drilling or the transport of uranium ore or vanadium-
uranium ore from such mine or mill) located in
Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota,
Washington, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas,
and any State the Attorney General makes a
determination under section 5(a)(2) of that Act for
inclusion of eligibility under section 5(a)(1) of that
Act, at any time during the period beginning on January
1, 1942, and ending on December 31, 1990, who likely
were exposed to radiation at that mine or mill but for
whom it is not feasible to estimate with sufficient
accuracy the radiation dose they received.''; and
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Designation of Additional Members.--
``(1) Subject to the provisions of section 3621(14)(C), the
members of a class of employees at a Department of Energy
facility, or at an atomic weapons employer facility, may be
treated as members of the Special Exposure Cohort for purposes
of the compensation program if the President, upon
recommendation of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker
Health, determines that--
``(A) it is not feasible to estimate with
sufficient accuracy the radiation dose that the class
received; and
``(B) there is a reasonable likelihood that such
radiation dose may have endangered the health of
members of the class.
``(2) Subject to the provisions of section 3621(14)(C), the
members of a class of employees employed in a uranium mine or
uranium mill described under section 5(a)(1)(A)(i) of the
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 note)
(including any individual who was employed in core drilling or
the transport of uranium ore or vanadium-uranium ore from such
mine or mill) located in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona,
Wyoming, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota,
Oregon, Texas, and any State the Attorney General makes a
determination under section 5(a)(2) of that Act for inclusion
of eligibility under section 5(a)(1) of that Act, at any time
during the period beginning on January 1, 1942, and ending on
December 31, 1990, may be treated as members of the Special
Exposure Cohort for purposes of the compensation program if the
President, upon recommendation of the Advisory Board on
Radiation and Worker Health, determines that--
``(A) it is not feasible to estimate with
sufficient accuracy the radiation dose that the class
received; and
``(B) there is a reasonable likelihood that such
radiation dose may have endangered the health of
members of the class.''.
SEC. 210. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct, and submit to
Congress a report describing the results of, a study on the importance
of, and need for, unmet medical benefits coverage for individuals who
were exposed to radiation in atmospheric nuclear tests conducted by the
Federal Government, and recommendations to provide such unmet medical
benefits coverage for such individuals.
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