[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4586 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4586

 To provide for the issuance of a congressional gold 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

                           September 16, 1998

 Mr. Redmond introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Banking and Financial Services, and in addition to the 
    Committee on National Security, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for the issuance of a congressional gold 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Nuclear Veterans Decoration Act''.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL FOR VETERANS EXPOSED TO NUCLEAR RADIATION 
              WHILE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to commemorate the 
sacrifices made and service rendered to the United States by those 
veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States who were exposed to 
nuclear radiation while serving in the Armed Forces.
    (b) Presentation Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate are 
        authorized jointly to present, on behalf of the Congress, to 
        persons certified by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to 
        subsection (e) a gold medal commemorating the service of those 
        persons to the United States.
            (2) Acceptance by next of kin.--The medal may be accepted 
        by the next of kin of any person referred to in paragraph (1), 
        on behalf of such person, if the person is no longer living or 
        is otherwise unable to accept the medal.
    (c) Design and Striking.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
strike the gold medals authorized by subsection (b) with suitable 
emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary of 
the Treasury.
    (d) Eligibility Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--A person shall be eligible for a gold 
        medal under this section if the person, as a member of the 
        Armed Forces of the United States, 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) Radiation-risk activity defined.--For purposes of 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).
            (3) Establishment of eligibility.--To establish the 
        eligibility required by paragraph (1), a person shall present 
        to the Secretary of Defense an application with such supporting 
        documentation as the person may have to support such person's 
        eligibility or the eligibility of a next of kin.
            (4) Determination by secretary.--The Secretary of Defense 
        shall determine, through the documentation provided and, if 
        necessary, independent investigation whether the person meets 
        the criteria prescribed in paragraph (1).
    (e) Certification.--The Secretary of Defense shall, within 12 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, certify to the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the 
Senate the names of persons eligible to receive the medal.
    (f) Next of Kin.--If applications for a medal are filed by more 
than 1 next of kin of a person eligible to receive a medal under this 
section, the Secretary of Defense shall determine which next of kin 
will receive the medal.
    (g) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to this section 
are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United 
States Code.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sum as may be necessary to carry out this section.
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