[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2553 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2553

 To authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the 
  Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of 
    participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other 
                             circumstances.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2009

Mr. Tiahrt (for himself, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Gingrey 
   of Georgia, Mr. Moran of Kansas, Ms. Bordallo, and Mr. Loebsack) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                             Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the award of a military service medal to members of the 
  Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of 
    participation in the testing of nuclear weapons or under other 
                             circumstances.

    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 ``Atomic Veterans Service Medal Act''.

SEC. 2. ATOMIC VETERANS SERVICE MEDAL.

    (a) Service Medal Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall design 
and produce a military service medal, to be known as the ``Atomic 
Veterans Service Medal'', to honor retired and former members of the 
Armed Forces who are radiation-exposed veterans (as such term is 
defined in section 1112(c)(3) of title 38, United States Code).
    (b) Distribution of Medal.--
            (1) Issuance to retired and former members.--At the request 
        of a radiation-exposed veteran, the Secretary of Defense shall 
        issue the Atomic Veterans Service Medal to the veteran.
            (2) Issuance to next-of-kin.--In the case of a radiation-
        exposed veteran who is deceased, the Secretary may provide for 
        issuance of the Atomic Veterans Service Medal to the next-of-
        kin of the person.
            (3) Application.--The Secretary shall prepare and 
        disseminate as appropriate an application by which radiation-
        exposed veterans and their next-of-kin may apply to receive the 
        Atomic Veterans Service Medal.
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