119-s243

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 243 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 243

 To extend the period for filing claims under the Radiation Exposure 
 Compensation Act and to provide for compensation under such Act for 
claims relating to Manhattan Project waste, and to improve compensation 
 for workers involved in uranium mining.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 January 24, 2025

 Mr. Hawley (for himself, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Schmitt, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. 
 Kelly, and Mr. Crapo) introduced the following bill; which was read 
 twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To extend the period for filing claims under the Radiation Exposure 
 Compensation Act and to provide for compensation under such Act for 
claims relating to Manhattan Project waste, and to improve compensation 
 for workers involved in uranium mining.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Radiation Exposure 
Compensation Reauthorization Act''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
 TITLE I--MANHATTAN PROJECT WASTE

Sec. 101. Short title.

Sec. 102. Claims relating to Manhattan Project waste.

Sec. 103. Cooperative agreement.
 TITLE II--COMPENSATION FOR WORKERS INVOLVED IN URANIUM MINING AND 
 INDIVIDUALS LIVING DOWNWIND OF ATMOSPHERIC NUCLEAR TESTING

Sec. 201. Short title.

Sec. 202. References.

Sec. 203. Extension of fund.

Sec. 204. Claims relating to atmospheric testing.

Sec. 205. Claims relating to uranium mining.

Sec. 206. Expansion of use of affidavits in determination of claims; 
 regulations.

Sec. 207. Limitation on claims.

Sec. 208. Grant program on epidemiological impacts of uranium mining 
 and milling.

Sec. 209. Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.

Sec. 210. GAO study and report.

 TITLE I--MANHATTAN PROJECT WASTE

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    (a) Short Title.--This title may be cited as the ``Radiation 
Exposure Compensation Expansion Act''.

SEC. 102. CLAIMS RELATING TO MANHATTAN PROJECT WASTE.

 The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (Public Law 101-426; 42 
U.S.C. 2210 note) is amended by inserting after 

section 5 the 
following:

``

SEC. 5A. CLAIMS RELATING TO MANHATTAN PROJECT WASTE.

 ``

    (a) In General.--A claimant shall receive compensation for a 
claim made under this Act, as described in subsection

    (b) or
            (c) , if--
 ``

    (1) a claim for compensation is filed with the Attorney 
 General--
 ``
        (A) by an individual described in paragraph

    (2) ; 
 or
 ``
        (B) on behalf of that individual by an authorized 
 agent of that individual, if the individual is deceased 
 or incapacitated, such as--
 ``
            (i) an executor of estate of that 
 individual; or
 ``
            (ii) a legal guardian or conservator of 
 that individual;
 ``

    (2) that individual, or if applicable, an authorized 
 agent of that individual, demonstrates that the individual--
 ``
        (A) was physically present in an affected area 
 for a period of at least 2 years after January 1, 1949; 
 and
 ``
        (B) contracted a specified disease after such 
 period of physical presence;
 ``

    (3) the Attorney General certifies that the identity of 
 that individual, and if applicable, the authorized agent of 
 that individual, is not fraudulent or otherwise misrepresented; 
 and
 ``

    (4) the Attorney General determines that the claimant has 
 satisfied the applicable requirements of this Act.
 ``

    (b) Losses Available to Living Affected Individuals.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--In the event of a claim qualifying for 
 compensation under subsection

    (a) that is submitted to the 
 Attorney General to be eligible for compensation under this 
 section at a time when the individual described in subsection

    (a)

    (2) is living, the amount of compensation under this section 
 shall be in an amount that is the greater of $50,000 or the 
 total amount of compensation for which the individual is 
 eligible under paragraph

    (2) .
 ``

    (2) Losses due to medical expenses.--A claimant described 
 in paragraph

    (1) shall be eligible to receive, upon submission 
 of contemporaneous written medical records, reports, or billing 
 statements created by or at the direction of a licensed medical 
 professional who provided contemporaneous medical care to the 
 claimant, additional compensation in the amount of all 
 documented out-of-pocket medical expenses incurred as a result 
 of the specified disease suffered by that claimant, such as any 
 medical expenses not covered, paid for, or reimbursed through--
 ``
        (A) any public or private health insurance;
 ``
        (B) any employee health insurance;
 ``
            (C) any workers' compensation program; or
 ``
            (D) any other public, private, or employee health 
 program or benefit.
 ``
            (c) Payments to Beneficiaries of Deceased Individuals.--In the 
event that an individual described in subsection

    (a)

    (2) who qualifies 
for compensation under subsection

    (a) is deceased at the time of 
submission of the claim--
 ``

    (1) a surviving spouse may, upon submission of a claim 
 and records sufficient to satisfy the requirements of 
 subsection

    (a) with respect to the deceased individual, receive 
 compensation in the amount of $25,000; or
 ``

    (2) in the event that there is no surviving spouse, the 
 surviving children, minor or otherwise, of the deceased 
 individual may, upon submission of a claim and records 
 sufficient to satisfy the requirements of subsection

    (a) with 
 respect to the deceased individual, receive compensation in the 
 total amount of $25,000, paid in equal shares to each surviving 
 child.
 ``
            (d) Affected Area.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`affected area' means--
 ``

    (1) in the State of Missouri, the ZIP Codes of 63031, 
 63033, 63034, 63042, 63045, 63074, 63114, 63135, 63138, 63044, 
 63121, 63140, 63145, 63147, 63102, 63304, 63134, 63043, 63341, 
 63368, and 63367;
 ``

    (2) in the State of Tennessee, the ZIP Codes of 37716, 
 37840, 37719, 37748, 37763, 37828, 37769, 37710, 37845, 37887, 
 37829, 37854, 37830, and 37831;
 ``

    (3) in the State of Alaska, the ZIP Codes of 99546 and 
 99547; and
 ``

    (4) in the State of Kentucky, the ZIP Codes of 42001, 
 42003, and 42086.
 ``

    (e) Specified Disease.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`specified disease' means any of the following:
 ``

    (1) Any leukemia, other than chronic lymphocytic 
 leukemia, provided that the initial exposure occurred after the 
 age of 20 and the onset of the disease was at least 2 years 
 after first exposure.
 ``

    (2) Any of the following diseases, provided that the 
 onset was at least 2 years after the initial exposure:
 ``
        (A) Multiple myeloma.
 ``
        (B) Lymphoma, other than Hodgkin's disease.
 ``
            (C) Primary cancer of the--
 ``
            (i) thyroid;
 ``
            (ii) male or female breast;
 ``
            (iii) esophagus;
 ``
            (iv) stomach;
 ``
            (v) pharynx;
 ``
            (vi) small intestine;
 ``
            (vii) pancreas;
 ``
            (viii) bile ducts;
 ``
            (ix) gall bladder;
 ``
            (x) salivary gland;
 ``
            (xi) urinary bladder;
 ``
            (xii) brain;
 ``
            (xiii) colon;
 ``
            (xiv) ovary;
 ``
            (xv) bone;
 ``
            (xvi) renal;
 ``
            (xvii) liver, except if cirrhosis or 
 hepatitis B is indicated; or
 ``
            (xviii) lung.
 ``

    (f) Physical Presence.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the 
 Attorney General shall not determine that a claimant has 
 satisfied the requirements of subsection

    (a) unless 
 demonstrated by submission of--
 ``
        (A) contemporaneous written residential 
 documentation and at least 1 additional employer-issued 
 or government-issued document or record that the 
 claimant, for at least 2 years after January 1, 1949, 
 was physically present in an affected area; or
 ``
        (B) other documentation determined by the 
 Attorney General to demonstrate that the claimant, for 
 at least 2 years after January 1, 1949, was physically 
 present in an affected area.
 ``

    (2) Types of physical presence.--For purposes of 
 determining physical presence under this section, a claimant 
 shall be considered to have been physically present in an 
 affected area if--
 ``
        (A) the claimant's primary residence was in the 
 affected area;
 ``
        (B) the claimant's place of employment was in the 
 affected area; or
 ``
            (C) the claimant attended school in the affected 
 area.
 ``

    (g) Disease Contraction in Affected Areas.--For purposes of this 
section, the Attorney General shall not determine that a claimant has 
satisfied the requirements of subsection

    (a) unless the claimant 
submits--
 ``

    (1) written medical records or reports created by or at 
 the direction of a licensed medical professional, created 
 contemporaneously with the provision of medical care to the 
 claimant, that the claimant, after a period of physical 
 presence in an affected area, contracted a specified disease; 
 or
 ``

    (2) other documentation determined by the Attorney 
 General to demonstrate that the claimant contracted a specified 
 disease after a period of physical presence in an affected 
 area.''.

SEC. 103. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary 
of Energy, acting through the Director of the Office of Legacy 
Management, shall award to an eligible association a cooperative 
agreement to support the safeguarding of human and ecological health at 
the Amchitka, Alaska, Site.

    (b) Requirements.--A cooperative agreement awarded under subsection

    (a) --

    (1) may be used to fund--
        (A) research and development that will improve and 
 focus long-term surveillance and monitoring of the 
 site;
        (B) workforce development at the site; and
            (C) such other activities as the Secretary 
 considers appropriate; and

    (2) shall require that the eligible association--
        (A) engage in stakeholder engagement; and
        (B) to the greatest extent practicable, incorporate 
 Indigenous knowledge and the participation of local 
 Indian Tribes in research and development and workforce 
 development activities.
            (c) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Eligible association.--The term ``eligible 
 association'' means an association of 2 or more of the 
 following:
        (A) An institution of higher education (as that 
 term is defined in 

section 101

    (a) of the Higher 
 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001

    (a) )) located in 
 the State of Alaska.
        (B) An agency of the State of Alaska.
            (C) A local Indian Tribe.
            (D) An organization--
            (i) described in 

section 501
            (c) (3) of the 
 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
 taxation under 

section 501

    (a) of such Code; and
            (ii) located in the State of Alaska.

    (2) Local indian tribe.--The term ``local Indian Tribe'' 
 means an Indian tribe (as that term is defined in 

section 4 of 
 the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
 U.S.C. 5304)) that is located in the Aleut Region of the State 
 of Alaska.

 TITLE II--COMPENSATION FOR WORKERS INVOLVED IN URANIUM MINING AND 
 INDIVIDUALS LIVING DOWNWIND OF ATMOSPHERIC NUCLEAR TESTING

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

 This title may be cited as the ``Radiation Exposure Compensation 
Act Amendments of 2025''.

SEC. 202. REFERENCES.

 Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this title 
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. 203. EXTENSION OF FUND.

 

Section 3
            (d) is amended--

    (1) by striking the first sentence and inserting ``The Fund 
 shall terminate 6 years after the date of the enactment of the 
 Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2025.''; and

    (2) by striking ``2-year'' and inserting ``6-year''.

SEC. 204. CLAIMS RELATING TO ATMOSPHERIC TESTING.

    (a) Leukemia Claims Relating to Trinity Test in New Mexico and 
Tests at the Nevada Site and in the Pacific.--

Section 4

    (a)

    (1)
        (A) is 
amended--

    (1) in clause
            (i) --
        (A) in subclause
            (I) , by striking ``October 31, 
 1958'' and inserting ``November 6, 1962'';
        (B) in subclause
            (II) --
            (i) by striking ``in the affected area'' 
 and inserting ``in an affected area''; and
            (ii) by striking ``or'' after the 
 semicolon;
            (C) by redesignating subclause
            (III) as subclause
            (V) ; and
            (D) by inserting after subclause
            (II) the 
 following:
 ``
            (III) was physically present in an 
 affected area for a period of at least 1 year 
 during the period beginning on September 24, 
 1944, and ending on November 6, 1962;
 ``
            (IV) was physically present in an 
 affected area--
 ``

    (aa) for a period of at least 1 
 year during the period beginning on 
 July 1, 1946, and ending on November 6, 
 1962; or
 ``

    (bb) for the period beginning on 
 April 25, 1962, and ending on November 
 6, 1962; or''; and

    (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) shall receive 
 $100,000.''.
            (c) Conditions for Claims Related to Leukemia.--

Section 4

    (a)

    (1)
            (C) is amended--

    (1) by striking clause
            (i) ; and

    (2) by redesignating clauses
            (ii) and
            (iii) as clauses
            (i) and
            (ii) , respectively.
            (d) Specified Diseases Claims Relating to Trinity Test in New 
Mexico and Tests at the Nevada Site and in the Pacific.--

Section 4

    (a)

    (2) is amended--

    (1) in subparagraph
        (A) --
        (A) by striking ``in the affected area'' and 
 inserting ``in an affected area'';
        (B) by striking ``2 years'' and inserting ``1 
 year''; and
            (C) by striking ``October 31, 1958'' and inserting 
 ``November 6, 1962'';

    (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 a period of at least 1 year during the period 
 beginning on September 24, 1944, and ending on November 
 6, 1962;
 ``
            (D) was physically present in an affected area--
 ``
            (i) for a period of at least 1 year 
 during the period beginning on July 1, 1946, 
 and ending on November 6, 1962; or
 ``
            (ii) for the period beginning on April 
 25, 1962, and ending on November 6, 1962; or''.

    (e) Amounts for Claims Related to Specified Diseases.--

Section 4

    (a)

    (2) is amended in the matter following subparagraph
        (E) (as 
redesignated by subsection
            (d) 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 ``$100,000''.

    (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, Utah, and Guam;
 ``
        (B) with respect to a claim by an individual 
 under subsection

    (a)

    (1)
        (A)
            (i) 
            (III) or subsection

    (a)

    (2)
            (C) , only New Mexico; and
 ``
            (C) with respect to a claim by an individual 
 under subsection

    (a)

    (1)
        (A)
            (i) 
            (IV) or subsection

    (a)

    (2)
            (D) , only Guam.''.

    (g) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia as a Specified Disease.--

Section 4

    (b)

    (2) is amended by striking ``other than chronic lymphocytic 
leukemia'' and inserting ``including chronic lymphocytic leukemia''.

SEC. 205. 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 ``, or was involved in remediation efforts 
 at such a uranium mine or uranium mill,'' after ``ore 
 transporter'';

    (3) by inserting ``
            (I) '' after ``clause
            (i) ''; and

    (4) 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

    (bb) ;''.

    (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. 206. 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 (as defined in 

section 4

    (b)

    (1) ) 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 matter preceding 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
            (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) ,

    (a)

    (2)
            (C) , or

    (a)

    (2)
            (D) of 

section 4''.
            (c) Regulations.--

    (1) In general.--

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 2025, the Attorney General shall issue revised regulations 
 to carry out this Act.''.

    (2) Considerations in revisions.--In issuing revised 
 regulations under 

section 6

    (k) of the Radiation Exposure 
 Compensation Act (Public Law 101-426; 42 U.S.C. 2210 note), as 
 amended under paragraph

    (1) , the Attorney General shall ensure 
 that procedures with respect to the submission and processing 
 of claims under such Act take into account and make allowances 
 for the law, tradition, and customs of Indian tribes, including 
 by accepting as a record of proof of physical presence for a 
 claimant a grazing permit, a homesite lease, a record of being 
 a holder of a post office box, a letter from an elected leader 
 of an Indian tribe, or a record of any recognized tribal 
 association or organization.

SEC. 207. LIMITATION ON CLAIMS.

    (a) Extension of Filing Time.--

Section 8

    (a) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``2 years'' and inserting ``5 years''; and

    (2) by striking ``RECA Extension Act of 2022'' and 
 inserting ``Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 
 2025''.

    (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 2025, 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 2025 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 
 2025, 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 2025;
 ``
            (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 2025 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 2025); 
 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 
 2025; 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. 208. 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 2025 through 2027.

SEC. 209. ENERGY EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS COMPENSATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Covered Employees With Cancer.--

Section 3621

    (9) of the Energy 
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (42 
U.S.C. 7384l

    (9) ) is amended by striking subparagraph
        (A) and inserting 
the following:
 ``
        (A) An individual with a specified cancer who is 
 a member of the Special Exposure Cohort, if and only 
 if--
 ``
            (i) that individual contracted that 
 specified cancer after beginning employment at 
 a Department of Energy facility (in the case of 
 a Department of Energy employee or Department 
 of Energy contractor employee) or at an atomic 
 weapons employer facility (in the case of an 
 atomic weapons employee); or
 ``
            (ii) that individual--
 ``
            (I) contracted that specified 
 cancer after beginning employment in a 
 uranium mine or uranium mill described 
 under 

section 5

    (a)

    (1)
        (A)
            (i) of the 
 Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 
 U.S.C. 2210 note) (including any 
 individual who was employed in core 
 drilling or the transport of uranium 
 ore or vanadium-uranium ore from such 
 mine or mill) located in Colorado, New 
 Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, 
 Washington, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, 
 Oregon, Texas, or any State the 
 Attorney General makes a determination 
 under 

section 5

    (a)

    (2) of that Act for 
 inclusion of eligibility under 

section 5

    (a)

    (1) of that Act; and
 ``
            (II) was employed in a uranium 
 mine or uranium mill described under 
 subclause
            (I) (including any individual 
 who was employed in core drilling or 
 the transport of uranium ore or 
 vanadium-uranium ore from such mine or 
 mill) at any time during the period 
 beginning on January 1, 1942, and 
 ending on December 31, 1990.''.

    (b) Members of Special Exposure Cohort.--

Section 3626 of the Energy 
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 (42 
U.S.C. 7384q) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) , by striking paragraph

    (1) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``

    (1) The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 
 under 

section 3624 shall advise the President whether there is 
 a class of employees--
 ``
        (A) at any Department of Energy facility who 
 likely were exposed to radiation at that facility but 
 for whom it is not feasible to estimate with sufficient 
 accuracy the radiation dose they received; and
 ``
        (B) employed in a uranium mine or uranium mill 
 described under 

section 5

    (a)

    (1)
        (A)
            (i) of the Radiation 
 Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 note) 
 (including any individual who was employed in core 
 drilling or the transport of uranium ore or vanadium-
 uranium ore from such mine or mill) located in 
 Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, 
 Washington, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, 
 and any State the Attorney General makes a 
 determination under 

section 5

    (a)

    (2) of that Act for 
 inclusion of eligibility under 

section 5

    (a)

    (1) of that 
 Act, at any time during the period beginning on January 
 1, 1942, and ending on December 31, 1990, who likely 
 were exposed to radiation at that mine or mill but for 
 whom it is not feasible to estimate with sufficient 
 accuracy the radiation dose they received.''; and

    (2) by striking subsection

    (b) and inserting the following:
 ``

    (b) Designation of Additional Members.--
 ``

    (1) Subject to the provisions of 

section 3621

    (14)
            (C) , the 
 members of a class of employees at a Department of Energy 
 facility, or at an atomic weapons employer facility, may be 
 treated as members of the Special Exposure Cohort for purposes 
 of the compensation program if the President, upon 
 recommendation of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker 
 Health, determines that--
 ``
        (A) it is not feasible to estimate with 
 sufficient accuracy the radiation dose that the class 
 received; and
 ``
        (B) there is a reasonable likelihood that such 
 radiation dose may have endangered the health of 
 members of the class.
 ``

    (2) Subject to the provisions of 

section 3621

    (14)
            (C) , the 
 members of a class of employees employed in a uranium mine or 
 uranium mill described under 

section 5

    (a)

    (1)
        (A)
            (i) of the 
 Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210 note) 
 (including any individual who was employed in core drilling or 
 the transport of uranium ore or vanadium-uranium ore from such 
 mine or mill) located in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, 
 Wyoming, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, 
 Oregon, Texas, and any State the Attorney General makes a 
 determination under 

section 5

    (a)

    (2) of that Act for inclusion 
 of eligibility under 

section 5

    (a)

    (1) of that Act, at any time 
 during the period beginning on January 1, 1942, and ending on 
 December 31, 1990, may be treated as members of the Special 
 Exposure Cohort for purposes of the compensation program if the 
 President, upon recommendation of the Advisory Board on 
 Radiation and Worker Health, determines that--
 ``
        (A) it is not feasible to estimate with 
 sufficient accuracy the radiation dose that the class 
 received; and
 ``
        (B) there is a reasonable likelihood that such 
 radiation dose may have endangered the health of 
 members of the class.''.

SEC. 210. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.

 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct, and submit to 
Congress a report describing the results of, a study on the importance 
of, and need for, unmet medical benefits coverage for individuals who 
were exposed to radiation in atmospheric nuclear tests conducted by the 
Federal Government, and recommendations to provide such unmet medical 
benefits coverage for such individuals.
 <all>