[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 432 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 432

To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the issuance of a 
   nuclear radiation medal to persons who while members of the Armed 
  Forces participated in an activity resulting in risk of exposure to 
                           nuclear radiation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 1997

Mr. Richardson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on National Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the issuance of a 
   nuclear radiation medal to persons who while members of the Armed 
  Forces participated in an activity resulting in risk of exposure to 
                           nuclear radiation.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ISSUANCE OF NUCLEAR RADIATION MEDAL TO PERSONS WHO WHILE 
              MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES PARTICIPATED IN A RADIATION-
              RISK ACTIVITY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1131. Nuclear radiation medal: issue
    ``(a)(1) The Secretary concerned shall issue a nuclear radiation 
medal to any person who, as a member of the armed forces, participated 
in a radiation-risk activity--
            ``(A) while serving on active duty; or
            ``(B) while performing active duty for training or inactive 
        duty training.
    ``(2) In this section, the term `radiation-risk activity' means any 
of the following:
            ``(A) On-site participation in a test involving the 
        atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device.
            ``(B) The occupation by the armed forces of Hiroshima and 
        Nagasaki, Japan, during the period beginning on August 6, 1945, 
        and ending on July 1, 1946.
            ``(C) Internment as a prisoner of war in Japan (or service 
        on active duty in Japan immediately following such internment) 
        during World War II that (as determined by the Secretary 
        concerned) resulted in an opportunity for exposure to ionizing 
        radiation comparable to that of persons described in 
        subparagraph (B).
            ``(D) Any other activity that, as determined by the 
        Secretary concerned, resulted in an opportunity for exposure to 
        ionizing radiation comparable to that of persons described in 
        subparagraph (A) or (B).
    ``(b) The nuclear radiation medal shall be of an appropriate design 
approved by the Secretary of Defense, with ribbons and appurtenances.
    ``(c) Not more than one nuclear radiation medal may be issued to a 
person. However, for each succeeding participation in a radiation-risk 
activity that would otherwise justify the issuance of such a medal, the 
Secretary concerned may issue a suitable device to be worn as the 
Secretary determines.
    ``(d) If a person dies before the issuance of a nuclear radiation 
medal to which he is entitled, the medal may be issued to the person's 
representative, as designated by the Secretary concerned.
    ``(e) Under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary 
concerned, a nuclear radiation medal that is lost, destroyed, or 
rendered unfit for use without fault or neglect on the part of the 
person to whom it was issued may be replaced without charge.
    ``(f) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that regulations 
prescribed by the Secretaries of the military departments under this 
section are as uniform as practicable.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``1131. Nuclear radiation medal: issue.''.
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