S. 1656 — Vieques Recovery and Redevelopment Act

This section states congressional findings concerning Vieques, Puerto Rico (an island municipality measuring 21 miles by 4 miles and located 8 miles east of the main island), including its limited pre-Hurricane Maria medical facilities lacking x-ray, CT, EKG, ultrasound, or PET scan capabilities; unreliable ferry service imposing $120-$200 out-of-pocket costs per trip for cancer patients; approximately 60 years of U.S. military training involving over 80 million tons of ordnance that exposed residents to heavy metals and toxic chemicals, contributing to elevated rates of cancer, cirrhosis, hypertension, diabetes, heavy metal diseases, and other illnesses; devastation from Hurricane Maria in 2017 that closed the sole medical facility and exceeded FEMA's legal authority to replace with a full hospital; and a 2012 federal court ruling (Sanchez v. United States) urging Congress to address the humanitarian crisis due to sovereign immunity.

This section establishes a settlement process, payable from the Judgment Fund (31 U.S.C. §1304), for claims against the United States by eligible residents (and their immediate heirs under Puerto Rico law) of Vieques, Puerto Rico, who resided on the island for at least five years before enactment and who submit medical documentation linking specified diseases (cancer, hypertension, cirrhosis, kidney disease, diabetes, or heavy metal poisoning) to U.S. military use of the island, provided they previously filed (or file within 120 days of enactment) a related lawsuit or administrative claim. The Special Master, appointed by the Attorney General within 90 days of enactment, awards (1) $50,000 for one disease, $80,000 for two diseases, or $110,000 for three or more diseases; (2) additional amounts for new diseases claimed within 10 years, equal to the difference from the original award tier; or (3) for deceased claimants, the applicable amount divided among heirs or, if military activity more likely than not caused death, $110,000 (under age 20), $80,000 (under age 40), or $50,000 (under age 60), divided among heirs. This section further compensates the Municipality of Vieques—in exchange for its administrative claims—with resources to build and operate (or fund interim services for) a level three trauma center including a cancer center and renal dialysis unit on the island; ongoing operations funding for local pediatric and adult care (with referrals and transport off-island); and, pending facility completion, urgent air transport, medical coordination, telemedicine, and other services for claimants.