[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H1090-H1092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1630
LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH ACT OF 2018
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4675) to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide for
a low-dose radiation basic research program, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4675
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 ``Low-Dose Radiation Research
Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subtitle G of title IX of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16311 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 977 the following new section:
``SEC. 977A. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a basic
research program on low-dose radiation to--
``(1) enhance the scientific understanding of, and reduce
uncertainties associated with, the effects of exposure to
low-dose radiation; and
``(2) inform improved risk-assessment and risk-management
methods with respect to such radiation.
``(b) Program Components.--In carrying out the program
required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
``(1) formulate scientific goals for low-dose radiation
basic research in the United States;
``(2) identify ongoing scientific challenges for
understanding the long-term effects of ionizing radiation on
biological systems;
``(3) develop a long-term strategic and prioritized basic
research agenda to address such scientific challenges in
coordination with other research efforts;
``(4) identify and, to the extent possible, quantify,
potential monetary and health-related benefits to Federal
agencies, the general public, industry, research communities,
and other users of information produced by such research
program;
``(5) leverage the collective body of knowledge from
existing low-dose radiation research; and
``(6) engage with other Federal agencies, research
communities, and potential users of information produced
under this section, including institutions concerning
radiation research, medical physics, radiology, health
physics, and emergency response.
``(c) Coordination.--In carrying out the program, the
Secretary, in coordination with the Physical Science
Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council,
shall--
``(1) support the directives under section 106 of the
American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 6601
note);
``(2) ensure that the Office of Science of the Department
of Energy consults with the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense,
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of
Homeland Security;
``(3) advise and assist the National Science and Technology
Council on policies and initiatives in radiation biology,
including enhancing scientific knowledge of the effects of
low-dose radiation on biological systems to improve radiation
risk-assessment and risk-management methods; and
``(4) identify opportunities to stimulate international
cooperation relating to low-dose radiation and leverage
research and knowledge from sources outside of the United
States.
``(d) Research Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate a 4-year research plan that
identifies and prioritizes basic research needs relating to
low-dose radiation. In developing such plan, the Secretary
shall incorporate the components described in subsection (b).
``(e) Definition of Low-Dose Radiation.--In this section,
the term `low-dose radiation' means a radiation dose of less
than 100 millisieverts.
``(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall
be construed to subject any research carried out by the
Secretary for the program under this section to any
limitations described in 977(e) of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16317(e)).
``(g) Funding.--For purposes of carrying out this section,
the Secretary is authorized to make available from funds
provided to the Biological and Environmental Research
Program--
``(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;
``(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2019;
``(3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
``(4) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for
subtitle G of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 977
the following:
``977A. Low-dose radiation research program.''.
SEC. 3. SPENDING LIMITATION.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and
this Act and such amendments shall be carried out using
amounts otherwise available for such purpose.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kansas (Mr. Marshall) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas.
General Leave
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 4675, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4675, the Low-Dose Radiation
Research Act of 2018.
H.R. 4675 requires the Department of Energy to carry out a research
program on low-dose radiation within the Office of Science. This
program will increase our understanding of the health effects that low
doses of ionizing radiation have on biological systems. Every day,
humans are exposed to low doses of radiation. It is the product of
industrial activities, commercial processes, medical procedures, and
naturally occurring systems.
Research has consistently shown us the adverse health effects
associated with high doses of radiation, but the health risks
associated with exposure to low doses of radiation are much
[[Page H1091]]
more difficult to observe, and we are a long way away from
understanding and accurately assessing this risk.
In the absence of conclusive evidence, agencies like the Department
of Energy, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental
Protection Agency are obligated to assume that any exposure to
radiation increases the risk of harmful human effects. Without
additional research, Federal agencies have no way to measure if there
is a safe radiation exposure threshold.
Our restricted understanding of low-dose radiation health risks
directly impairs our ability to address potential radiological events
and medically-based radiation exposures. It may also result in overly
stringent regulatory standards, inhibiting the development of nuclear
energy opportunities and posing an undue economic burden on the
American people.
As a physician in my home State of Kansas, I have a firsthand
understanding of the crucial importance of verified research to ensure
the best medical outcomes for my patients. For instance, an adult
patient who receives a computed tomography, or a CT scan, of the
abdomen and pelvis is exposed to approximately 3 years' worth of
natural background radiation at once.
The CT scan is an invaluable diagnostic tool, replacing many invasive
surgical procedures, and is a medical necessity for countless
Americans. Today, we physicians are unable to inform our patients of
the specific risks associated with these types of vital imaging
processes.
There is a broad consensus among the radiobiology community that more
research is necessary for Federal agencies, physicians, and related
experts to make better informed decisions regarding these risks. It is
no surprise that H.R. 4675 has received support from the Health Physics
Society, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, the
Radiation Research Society, the American Society for Radiation
Oncology, and leading researchers from Northwestern University and
Columbia University.
I would especially like to thank Chairman Lamar Smith, Representative
Dan Lipinski, and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Randy Weber for
cosponsoring this important legislation.
I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4675, the Low-Dose Radiation
Research Act of 2018.
The Department of Energy funds cutting-edge research across a variety
of disciplines. For many years, DOE stewarded research into low-dose
radiation exposure. This included studies into the effects of radiation
exposure in higher risk populations and the examination of the changes
that a cell undergoes when exposed to low-dose radiation. These
research investments resulted in notable advancements in this field and
significantly expanded our understanding of radiation exposure.
Over the past several years, this research program was ramped up and
eventually eliminated--or ramped down. However, there is much more that
should be explored, and the Department of Energy is best positioned to
lead this effort in coordination with other Federal agencies that have
a stake in this work.
Expanding our understanding of low-dose radiation could improve how
we utilize medical diagnostic tools or change how we regulate nuclear
power plants. Radiation is all around us every day. When we fly on a
plane or walk into a building made of limestone, much like the one we
are in now, we experience a small increase in our radiation exposure,
but we still don't have an answer to the fundamental question of what
that means for our health.
Are there healthy levels of radiation exposure or are they all
directly tied to an increased risk of cancer?
What is an acceptable level for long-term human health?
The answers to these fundamental questions can only be found by
properly investing in the research field. I am hopeful that
reconstituting this program at DOE will lead to more scientific
advancements and will expand humankind's understanding of radiation
exposure. DOE is the right place to do this work, and the benefits
should be numerous and invaluable.
I want to thank Mr. Marshall for introducing this bill, and I
strongly support this bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith), my friend and mentor, the chairman of the Science,
Space, and Technology Committee.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank
the gentleman from Kansas, Dr. Roger Marshall, the vice chairman of the
Subcommittee on Research and Technology, for yielding me time on his
bill, H.R. 4675, the Low-Dose Radiation Research Act of 2018.
H.R. 4675, cosponsored by Representative Dan Lipinski, Energy
Subcommittee Chairman Randy Weber, and Dr. Neal Dunn, authorizes a
revitalized low-dose radiation research program within the Biological
and Environmental Research program of the Department of Energy. This
basic research is part of the Science, Space, and Technology
Committee's continued effort to ensure America remains a leader in
foundational science and innovation.
The DOE low-dose radiation basic research program will analyze and
seek to determine any health impacts of low levels of radiation,
providing critical knowledge to our Nation's researchers, industry,
healthcare community, and military as they handle nuclear material,
maintain the Nation's nuclear weapons program, provide medical
treatment, and dispose of nuclear waste.
Low-dose radiation research can benefit regulatory agencies that set
nuclear safety standards for the public. This will enable Federal
emergency response agencies to more accurately set areas of evacuation
for radiological incidents.
The research is also of particular importance to physicians, who rely
on a thorough knowledge of radiation health risks to determine when and
how to use lifesaving diagnostics to detect and deter and treat cancer
in patients.
I thank Vice Chairman Marshall for his initiative in developing and
managing this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to
support this bipartisan bill.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I continue to
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Weber), the chairman of the Energy Subcommittee.
Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Congressman Marshall's
bill coming up today.
I rise, Mr. Speaker, in support of H.R. 4675, the Low-Dose Radiation
Research Act of 2018. This legislation authorizes a research program on
the health effects of low-dose radiation within the Department of
Energy's Office of Science.
Currently, key functions of the United States nuclear and medical
industries are guided by assumption-based radiation dose limits and
protections. In order to best serve our Nation's energy, medical, and
defense needs, we need foundational research in radiology and biology
to directly define the impact of low doses of radiation. The United
States should not rely on a ``best approximation'' when it comes to our
nuclear regulatory policies.
Mr. Speaker, today we have an opportunity to ensure that we as a
nation are doing everything we can to make certain that the
regulations, the guidelines, and the protections that we put in place
are grounded in sound science.
Again, I want to thank Congressman Marshall for introducing this
important legislation.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage
of the bill. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 4675 authorizes a critical research program in radiation biology
and will help ensure that we are basing our industrial, commercial, and
medical regulations on the best available science.
[[Page H1092]]
I want to once again thank my colleagues on the Science, Space, and
Technology Committee who have cosponsored H.R. 4675, including Chairman
Lamar Smith, Representative Dan Lipinski, and Energy Subcommittee
Chairman Randy Weber. I also want to thank the numerous researchers and
stakeholders who provided feedback as we developed this legislation.
I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4675, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________