[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2846-S2847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 710. Ms. LUMMIS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle G of title X, insert the following:

     SEC. 10__. CLAIMS RELATING TO URANIUM MINING; REAUTHORIZATION 
                   OF THE RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the 
     ``Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023''.
       (b) Claims Relating to Uranium Mining.--
       (1) In general.--Subparagraph (A) of section 5(a)(1) of the 
     Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (Public Law 101-426; 42 
     U.S.C. 2210 note) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(A) that individual--
       ``(i) was employed--

       ``(I) in a uranium mine or uranium mill (including any 
     individual who was employed in the transport of uranium ore 
     or vanadium-uranium ore from such mine or mill) located in 
     Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, 
     South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, or any other 
     State for which the Attorney General makes a determination 
     for inclusion of eligibility; and
       ``(II) at any time during the period beginning on January 
     1, 1942, and ending on December 31, 1978; and

       ``(ii)(I) was a miner exposed to 40 or more working level 
     months of radiation or worked for at least 1 year during the 
     period described under clause (i)(II) and submits written 
     medical documentation that the individual, after that 
     exposure, developed lung cancer, a nonmalignant respiratory 
     disease, renal cancer, or any other chronic renal disease, 
     including nephritis and kidney tubal tissue injury; or
       ``(II) was a miller, ore transporter, or core driller who 
     worked for at least 1 year during the period described under 
     clause (i)(II) and submits written medical documentation that 
     the individual, after that exposure, developed lung cancer, a 
     nonmalignant respiratory disease, renal cancer, or any other 
     chronic renal disease, including nephritis and kidney tubal 
     tissue injury;''.

[[Page S2847]]

       (2) Transfer of funds.--For individuals who are eligible 
     for payments described in subparagraph (A) of section 5(a)(1) 
     of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (Public Law 101-
     426; 42 U.S.C. 2210 note), as amended by paragraph (1), the 
     Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer, not later than 60 
     days after the date of enactment of this Act, $475,000,000 to 
     the Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund established 
     under section 3 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, 
     out of unobligated amounts appropriated for purposes of 
     coronavirus response under any of the following:
       (A) The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-123; 134 Stat. 146).
       (B) The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 
     116-127; 134 Stat. 178).
       (C) The CARES Act (Public Law 116-136; 134 Stat. 281).
       (D) The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care 
     Enhancement Act (Public Law 116-139; 134 Stat. 620).
       (E) Divisions M and N of the Consolidated Appropriations 
     Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat. 1182).
       (F) The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2; 
     135 Stat. 4).
       (G) An amendment made by a provision of law described in 
     any of subparagraphs (A) through (F).
       (c) Reauthorization of the Radiation Exposure Compensation 
     Act.--
       (1) In general.--Section 3(d) of the Radiation Exposure 
     Compensation Act (Public Law 101-426; 42 U.S.C. 2210 note) is 
     amended by striking the first sentence and inserting ``The 
     Fund shall terminate on the date that is 4 years after the 
     date of enactment of the Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 
     2023.''.
       (2) Limitation on claims.--Section 8(a) of the Radiation 
     Exposure Compensation Act (Public Law 101-426; 42 U.S.C. 2210 
     note) is amended by striking ``not later than 2 years after 
     the date of enactment of the RECA Extension Act of 2022'' and 
     inserting ``not later than 4 years after the date of 
     enactment of the Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023''.
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