110 HR 6121 IH: To provide for health care benefits for certain nuclear U.S. House of Representatives 2008-05-21 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6121 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2008 Mr. Turner (for himself, Mr. Udall of Colorado, and Mr. Perlmutter) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To provide for health care benefits for certain nuclear facility workers.

1.

Health care benefits for certain nuclear facility workers

(a)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Accelerated closure

The term accelerated closure means closure of a site on an accelerated schedule, as compared with the schedule of the Department for closure of the site specified in plans of the Department that were in effect on January 1, 2000. (2)

Department

The term Department means the Department of Energy. (3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. (b)

Program

The Secretary, after consultation with collective bargaining representatives of eligible workers described in subsection (c), shall establish a program to provide health care benefits for the eligible workers. (c)

Eligible workers

An individual shall be eligible for benefits under the program established under subsection (b) only if the individual— (1)has been employed by a prime contractor of the Department (including a subcontractor of the contractor) to perform duties, under a contract between the prime contractor and the Department for environmental remediation, waste management, decontamination and decommissioning, maintenance, security, and administrative activities, at the Fernald Closure Project (Harrison, Ohio), the Mound Closure Project (Miamisburg, Ohio), or the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (Golden, Colorado); and (2)would have qualified for health care benefits available for retirees under the health and welfare benefit plans sponsored by a prime contractor or subcontractor described in paragraph (1) if the employment of the individual had not been terminated as a result of the accelerated closure of the site at which the individual was employed. (d)

Level of benefits

To the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts or otherwise available, medical benefits shall be provided under the program established under subsection (b) at the same level as benefits are provided under the health and welfare benefit plans sponsored by the prime contractors described in subsection (c)(1) to employees who retired on January 1, 2005. (e)

Implementation

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall take all necessary actions to implement the program under this section through the contractors, subcontractors, or the benefit plan administrators of the Department at the sites described in subsection (c)(1). (f)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.