S-3853 : Still Just a Bill

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act (S. 3853) amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to address issues related to radiation exposure compensation. Key provisions include:

  • Manhattan Project Waste:
    • Establishes compensation for individuals who resided in designated areas in Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska, and Kentucky for at least two years after January 1, 1949, and later contracted specified diseases due to Manhattan Project waste.
    • Provides varying levels of compensation, including coverage for medical expenses for living individuals and payments to beneficiaries of deceased individuals.
    • Authorizes a cooperative agreement for the Secretary of Energy to support health and ecological safeguarding at the Amchitka, Alaska, Site.
  • Uranium Mining and Atmospheric Nuclear Testing:
    • Extends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Fund for six years.
    • Expands eligibility for compensation related to atmospheric nuclear testing to include individuals present in affected areas for at least one year between 1944 and 1962.
    • Increases the compensation amount for leukemia and specified diseases to $100,000.
    • Includes chronic lymphocytic leukemia as a specified disease.
    • Expands eligibility for uranium miners, millers, core drillers, and ore transporters, and includes renal cancer and other chronic renal diseases as compensable illnesses.
    • Allows for the use of affidavits to substantiate employment history and physical presence in affected areas.
  • General Provisions:
    • Extends the filing time for claims to five years after the enactment of the amendments.
    • Allows for the resubmittal of denied claims and provides for additional compensation for previously successful claims.
    • Establishes a grant program for epidemiological studies of the impacts of uranium mining and milling.
    • Amends the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act to include coverage for uranium miners and millers under the Special Exposure Cohort.
    • Requires a GAO study and report on unmet medical benefits coverage for individuals exposed to radiation in atmospheric nuclear tests.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2024-03-11FloorHeld at the desk.House floor actions
2024-03-11FloorReceived in the House.House floor actions
2024-03-08FloorMessage on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
2024-03-07VotePassed 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.Senate
2024-03-07FloorMeasure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.Senate
2024-03-05CalendarsRead the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 336.Senate
2024-02-29CalendarsIntroduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.Senate
2024-02-29IntroReferralIntroduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Policy Area :

Labor and Employment
See 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

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