[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3224 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3224

      To amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to improve 
  compensation for workers involved in uranium mining, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 19, 2010

  Mr. Udall of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Udall of Colorado, Mr. Risch, and Mr. Bennet) introduced the following 
    bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to improve 
  compensation for workers involved in uranium mining, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Radiation Exposure Compensation Act 
Amendments of 2010''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to or repeal 
of a section or other provision of law, the reference shall be 
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Radiation 
Exposure Compensation Act (Public Law 101-426; 42 U.S.C. 2210 note).

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF FUND.

    Section 3(d) is amended--
            (1) by striking the first sentence and inserting ``The Fund 
        shall terminate 19 years after the date of the enactment of the 
        Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2010.''; and
            (2) by striking ``22-year'' and inserting ``19-year''.

SEC. 4. CLAIMS RELATING TO ATMOSPHERIC TESTING.

    (a) Leukemia Claims Relating to Trinity Test in New Mexico and 
Tests in the Pacific.--Section 4(a)(1)(A) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i)--
                    (A) in subclause (II)--
                            (i) by striking ``in the affected area'' 
                        and inserting ``in an affected area''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``or'' after the 
                        semicolon;
                    (B) by redesignating subclause (III) as subclause 
                (V); and
                    (C) by inserting after subclause (II) the 
                following:
                                    ``(III) was physically present in 
                                an affected area for the period 
                                beginning on June 30, 1945, and ending 
                                on July 31, 1945; or
                                    ``(IV) was physically present in an 
                                affected area--
                                            ``(aa) for a period of at 
                                        least 1 year during the period 
                                        beginning on June 30, 1946, and 
                                        ending on August 19, 1958; or
                                            ``(bb) for the period 
                                        beginning on April 25, 1962, 
                                        and ending on November 5, 1962; 
                                        or''; or
            (2) in clause (ii)(I), by striking ``physical presence 
        described in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i) or onsite 
        participation described in clause (i)(III)'' and inserting 
        ``physical presence described in subclause (I), (II), (III), or 
        (IV) of clause (i) or onsite participation described in clause 
        (i)(V)''.
    (b) Amounts for Claims Related to Leukemia.--Section 4(a)(1) is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``an amount'' and 
        inserting ``the amount''; and
            (2) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(B) Amount.--If the conditions described in 
                subparagraph (C) are met, an individual who is 
                described in subparagraph (A)(i) shall receive 
                $150,000.''.
    (c) Specified Diseases Claims Relating to Trinity Test in New 
Mexico and Tests in the Pacific.--Section 4(a)(2) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``in the affected 
        area'' and inserting ``in an affected area'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) by striking ``in the affected area'' and 
                inserting ``in an affected area''; and
                    (B) by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (E); 
        and
            (4) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
                    ``(C) was physically present in an affected area 
                for the period beginning on June 30, 1945, and ending 
                on July 31, 1945;
                    ``(D) was physically present in an affected area--
                            ``(i) for a period of at least 2 years 
                        during the period beginning on June 30, 1946, 
                        and ending on August 19, 1958; or
                            ``(ii) for the period beginning on April 
                        25, 1962, and ending on November 5, 1962; or''.
    (d) Amounts for Claims Related to Specified Diseases.--Section 
4(a)(2) is amended in the matter following subparagraph (D) (as 
redesignated by subsection (c) of this section) by striking ``$50,000 
(in the case of an individual described in subparagraph (A) or (B)) or 
$75,000 (in the case of an individual described in subparagraph (C)),'' 
and inserting ``$150,000''.
    (e) Medical Benefits.--Section 4(a) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(5) Medical benefits.--An individual receiving a payment 
        under this section shall be eligible to receive medical 
        benefits in the same manner and to the same extent as an 
        individual eligible to receive medical benefits under section 
        3629 of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation 
        Program Act (as enacted into law by Public Law 106-398; 114 
        Stat. 165A-507).''.
    (f) Downwind States.--Section 4(b)(1) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(1) `affected area' means--
                    ``(A) except as provided under subparagraphs (B) 
                and (C), Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New 
                Mexico, and Utah;
                    ``(B) with respect to a claim by an individual 
                under subsection (a)(1)(A)(i)(III) or (2)(C), only New 
                Mexico; and
                    ``(C) with respect to a claim by an individual 
                under subsection (a)(1)(A)(i)(IV) or (2)(D), only 
                Guam.''.

SEC. 5. CLAIMS RELATING TO URANIUM MINING.

    (a) Employees of Mines and Mills.--Section 5(a)(1)(A)(i) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(I)'' after ``(i)'';
            (2) by striking ``December 31, 1971; and'' and inserting 
        ``December 31, 1990; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(II) was employed as a core driller in a 
                        State referred to in subclause (I) during the 
                        period described in such subclause; and''.
    (b) Miners.--Section 5(a)(1)(A)(ii)(I) is amended by inserting ``or 
renal cancer or any other chronic renal disease, including nephritis 
and kidney tubal tissue injury'' after ``nonmalignant respiratory 
disease''.
    (c) Millers, Core Drillers, and Ore Transporters.--Section 
5(a)(1)(A)(ii)(II) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``, core driller,'' after ``was a 
        miller'';
            (2) by inserting ``(I)'' after `` clause (i)''; and
            (3) by striking all that follows ``nonmalignant respiratory 
        disease'' and inserting ``or renal cancer or any other chronic 
        renal disease, including nephritis and kidney tubal tissue 
        injury; or''.
    (d) Combined Work Histories.--Section 5(a)(1)(A)(ii) is further 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of subclause (I); and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(III)(aa) does not meet the 
                                conditions of subclause (I) or (II);
                                    ``(bb) worked, during the period 
                                described in clause (i)(I), in two or 
                                more of the following positions: miner, 
                                miller, core driller, and ore 
                                transporter;
                                    ``(cc) meets the requirements of 
                                paragraph (4) or (5), or both; and
                                    ``(dd) submits written medical 
                                documentation that the individual 
                                developed lung cancer or a nonmalignant 
                                respiratory disease or renal cancer or 
                                any other chronic renal disease, 
                                including nephritis and kidney tubal 
                                tissue injury after exposure to 
                                radiation through work in one or more 
                                of the positions referred to in item 
                                (aa);''.
    (e) Dates of Operation of Uranium Mine.--Section 5(a)(2)(A) is 
amended by striking ``December 31, 1971'' and inserting ``December 31, 
1990''.
    (f) Special Rules Relating to Combined Work Histories.--Section 
5(a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Special rule relating to combined work histories for 
        individuals with at least one year of experience.--An 
        individual meets the requirements of this paragraph if the 
        individual worked in one or more of the positions referred to 
        in paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(III)(bb) for a period of at least one 
        year during the period described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(I).
            ``(5) Special rule relating to combined work histories for 
        miners.--An individual meets the requirements of this paragraph 
        if the individual, during the period described in paragraph 
        (1)(A)(i)(I), worked as a miner and was exposed to such number 
        of working level months that the Attorney General determines, 
        when combined with the exposure of such individual to radiation 
        through work as a miller, core driller, or ore transporter 
        during the period described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(I), results 
        in such individual being exposed to a total level of radiation 
        that is greater or equal to the level of exposure of an 
        individual described in paragraph (4).''.
    (g) Definition of Core Driller.--Section 5(b) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (7);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) the term `core driller' means any individual employed 
        to engage in the act or process of obtaining cylindrical rock 
        samples of uranium or vanadium by means of a borehole drilling 
        machine for the purpose of mining uranium or vanadium.''.

SEC. 6. EXPANSION OF USE OF AFFIDAVITS IN DETERMINATION OF CLAIMS; 
              REGULATIONS.

    (a) Affidavits.--Section 6(b) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(3) Affidavits.--
                    ``(A) Employment history.--For purposes of this 
                Act, the Attorney General shall accept a written 
                affidavit or declaration as evidence to substantiate 
                the employment history of an individual as a miner, 
                miller, core driller, or ore transporter if the 
                affidavit--
                            ``(i) is provided in addition to other 
                        material that may be used to substantiate the 
                        employment history of the individual;
                            ``(ii) attests to the employment history of 
                        the individual;
                            ``(iii) is made subject to penalty for 
                        perjury; and
                            ``(iv) is made by a person other than the 
                        individual filing the claim.
                    ``(B) Physical presence in affected area.--For 
                purposes of this Act, the Attorney General shall accept 
                a written affidavit or declaration as evidence to 
                substantiate an individual's physical presence in an 
                affected area during a period described in section 
                4(a)(1)(A)(i) or section 4(a)(2) if the affidavit--
                            ``(i) is provided in addition to other 
                        material that may be used to substantiate the 
                        individual's presence in an affected area 
                        during that time period;
                            ``(ii) attests to the individual's presence 
                        in an affected area during that period;
                            ``(iii) is made subject to penalty for 
                        perjury; and
                            ``(iv) is made by a person other than the 
                        individual filing the claim.
                    ``(C) Participation at testing site.--For purposes 
                of this Act, the Attorney General shall accept a 
                written affidavit or declaration as evidence to 
                substantiate an individual's participation onsite in a 
                test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear 
                device if the affidavit--
                            ``(i) is provided in addition to other 
                        material that may be used to substantiate the 
                        individual's participation onsite in a test 
                        involving the atmospheric detonation of a 
                        nuclear device;
                            ``(ii) attests to the individual's 
                        participation onsite in a test involving the 
                        atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device;
                            ``(iii) is made subject to penalty for 
                        perjury; and
                            ``(iv) is made by a person other than the 
                        individual filing the claim.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Section 6 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2)(C), by striking ``section 
        4(a)(2)(C)'' and inserting ``section 4(a)(2)(E)'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``subsection (a)(1), (a)(2)(A), or (a)(2)(B) of 
                        section 4'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(1), 
                        (a)(2)(A), (a)(2)(B), (a)(2)(C), or (a)(2)(D) 
                        of section 4''; and
                            (ii) in clause (i), by striking 
                        ``subsection (a)(1), (a)(2)(A), or (a)(2)(B) of 
                        section 4'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(1), 
                        (a)(2)(A), (a)(2)(B), (a)(2)(C), or (a)(2)(D) 
                        of section 4''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``section 
                4(a)(2)(C)'' and inserting ``section 4(a)(2)(E)''; and
            (3) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection (a)(1), 
        (a)(2)(A), or (a)(2)(B) of section 4'' and inserting 
        ``subsection (a)(1), (a)(2)(A), (a)(2)(B), or (a)(2)(C) of 
        section 4''.
    (c) Regulations.--Section 6(k) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: ``Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the 
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2010, the Attorney 
General shall issue revised regulations to carry out this Act.''.

SEC. 7. LIMITATION ON CLAIMS.

    (a) Extension of Filing Time.--Section 8(a) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``22 years'' and inserting ``19 years''; 
        and
            (2) by striking ``2000'' and inserting ``2010''.
    (b) Resubmittal of Claims.--Section 8(b) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(b) Resubmittal of Claims.--
            ``(1) Denied claims.--After the date of enactment of the 
        Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2010, any 
        claimant who has been denied compensation under this Act may 
        resubmit a claim for consideration by the Attorney General in 
        accordance with this Act not more than three times. Any 
        resubmittal made before the date of the enactment of the 
        Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2010 shall 
        not be applied to the limitation under the preceding sentence.
            ``(2) Previously successful claims.--
                    ``(A) In general.--After the date of enactment of 
                the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 
                2010, any claimant who received compensation under this 
                Act may submit a request to the Attorney General for 
                additional compensation and benefits. Such request 
                shall contain--
                            ``(i) the claimant's name, social security 
                        number, and date of birth;
                            ``(ii) the amount of award received under 
                        this Act before the date of enactment of the 
                        Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments 
                        of 2010;
                            ``(iii) any additional benefits and 
                        compensation sought through such request; and
                            ``(iv) any additional information required 
                        by the Attorney General.
                    ``(B) Additional compensation.--If the claimant 
                received compensation under this Act before the date of 
                enactment of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act 
                Amendments of 2010 and submits a request under 
                subparagraph (A), the Attorney General shall--
                            ``(i) pay the claimant the amount that is 
                        equal to any excess of--
                                    ``(I) the amount the claimant is 
                                eligible to receive under this Act (as 
                                amended by the Radiation Exposure 
                                Compensation Act Amendments of 2010); 
                                minus
                                    ``(II) the aggregate amount paid to 
                                the claimant under this Act before the 
                                date of enactment of the Radiation 
                                Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 
                                2010; and
                            ``(ii) in any case in which the claimant 
                        was compensated under section 4, provide the 
                        claimant with medical benefits under section 
                        4(a)(5).''.

SEC. 8. ATTORNEY FEES.

    Section 9(b)(1) is amended by striking ``2 percent'' and inserting 
``10 percent''.

SEC. 9. GRANT PROGRAM ON EPIDEMIOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF URANIUM MINING AND 
              MILLING.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);
            (2) the term ``program'' means the grant program 
        established under subsection (b); and
            (3) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services.
    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a grant program 
relating to the epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling. 
Grants awarded under the program shall be used for the study of the 
epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling among non-
occupationally exposed individuals, including family members of uranium 
miners and millers.
    (c) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the program 
through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
    (d) Eligibility and Application.--Any institution of higher 
education or nonprofit private entity shall be eligible to apply for a 
grant. To apply for a grant an eligible institution or entity shall 
submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing or accompanied by such information as the Secretary may 
reasonably require.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2011 through 2016.
                                 <all>