“To establish the Atomic Civilians Commemorative Service Medal, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes the Atomic Civilians Commemorative Service Medal, to be designed and produced by the Secretary of Defense to commemorate the service and sacrifice of civilian employees and contractors of the Department of Defense and other federal agencies involved in the nation's atomic and nuclear weapons programs. Eligible recipients include current or former U.S. government civilian employees and former contractor employees who (1) directly participated in the detonation of an atomic weapon or device, (2) directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive material from such an atmospheric detonation, (3) directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive material from an accident involving an atomic weapon, or (4) were exposed to ionizing radiation from the operational use of atomic weapons during World War II. The Secretary may require supporting documentation, must issue the medal upon request to eligible living individuals or to the next-of-kin of deceased eligible individuals (determining the recipient if multiple next-of-kin apply), and shall prepare and disseminate an application process.
This section establishes a compensation program administered by the Secretary of Defense to provide $75,000 awards, subject to appropriations, to eligible current or former civilian Department of Defense employees and contractor employees who directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive material from atmospheric nuclear detonations or atomic weapon accidents and who have been diagnosed with one of 21 specified diseases (e.g., leukemia other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia; cancers of the thyroid, breast, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, primary liver except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B indicated, salivary gland, urinary tract, bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma, bone, brain, colon, lung, or ovary; multiple myeloma; or lymphomas except Hodgkin's disease). Before paying an award, the Secretary must require supporting documentation of eligibility and disseminate an application form. Awards are reduced by the amount of any prior payment to the individual under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). (RECA compensates individuals, such as uranium miners and nuclear test downwinders, for radiation-related injuries.)