Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Atomic Civilians Recognition and Compensation Act”.
Atomic Civilians Recognition and Compensation Act
A BILL
To establish the Atomic Civilians Commemorative Service Medal, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Establishment of the Atomic Civilians Commemorative Service Medal
In general— The Secretary of Defense shall design and produce a commemorative service medal, to be known as the “Atomic Civilians Commemorative Service Medal” (in this section referred to as the “Medal”), to commemorate the service and sacrifice of civilian employees and contractors of the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies who were instrumental in the development of our Nation’s atomic and nuclear weapons programs.
Eligibility requirements—
Eligibility— Current or former civilian employees, and former employees of any contractor, of the United States Government shall be eligible for the Medal if such individual—
directly participated in the detonation of an atomic weapon or device;
directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive material resulting from any such atmospheric detonation;
directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive material resulting from an accident associated with an atomic weapon; or
was exposed to ionizing radiation resulting from the operational use of atomic weapons during World War II.
Documentation— The Secretary of Defense may require individuals to submit supporting documentation for the medal authorized in subsection (a) to determine eligibility under paragraph (1).
Distribution of medal—
Issuance to retired and former civilian employees— At the request of an eligible individual described under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall issue the Medal to such individual.
Issuance to next-of-kin— In the case of am individual who is deceased but would otherwise be eligible for the Medal, the Secretary may provide for issuance of the Medal to the next-of-kin of such individual. If applications for a Medal are filed by more than one next of kin of such an individual, the Secretary of Defense shall determine which next-of-kin will receive the Medal.
Application— The Secretary shall prepare and disseminate as appropriate an application by which eligible individuals and their next-of-kin may apply to receive the Medal.
Sec. 3 Establishment of program of compensation for atomic civilians
Compensation program— The Secretary of Defense shall establish a program of compensation for individuals who directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive material, subject to the requirements of this section.
Eligibility—
Eligibility— Subject to the availability of appropriations, a current or former civilian employee or a current or former employee of a contractor of the United States Government—
who directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive material resulting from any such atmospheric detonation or directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive material resulting from an accident associated with an atomic weapon; and
who was diagnosed with a disease described in paragraph (2)
Diseases— A disease described in this paragraph is any of the following:
Leukemia (other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia).
Cancer of the thyroid.
Cancer of the breast.
Cancer of the pharynx.
Cancer of the esophagus.
Cancer of the stomach.
Cancer of the small intestine.
Cancer of the pancreas.
Multiple myeloma.
Lymphomas (except Hodgkin’s disease).
Cancer of the bile ducts.
Cancer of the gall bladder.
Primary liver cancer (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated).
Cancer of the salivary gland.
Cancer of the urinary tract.
Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma.
Cancer of the bone.
Cancer of the brain.
Cancer of the colon.
Cancer of the lung.
Cancer of the ovary.
Requirements— Before paying any award under this section to an individual, the Secretary of Defense shall—
require the individual to submit supporting documentation to determine eligibility for compensation under the program established under this section; and
prepare and disseminate as appropriate an application by which current and former civilian employees and current and former contractors may apply to receive compensation.
Offset— The Secretary of Defense shall offset the amount of any award under this section by subtracting from such award the amount of any payment made to an otherwise eligible individual under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.