Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1981

Summary

Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1981 - Makes the United States liable for damages to: (1) certain individuals who resided in the vicinity of or worked on the Nevada nuclear test site and were exposed to low-level radiation during specified periods; and (2) certain uranium miners in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah who died from or contracted acute leukemia, lung cancer, or other cancer identified by the Advisory Panel on the Health Effects of Exposure to Radiation and Uranium. Extends such liability for damage to specified sheep herds caused by the Nancy nuclear detonation or the Harry nuclear detonation. Bars actions for damages under this Act after a specified date. Grants exclusive original jurisdiction to the appropriate district court for actions under this Act. Establishes, within the Department of Health and Human Services, an Advisory Panel on the Health Effects of Exposure to Radiation and Uranium. Directs the Advisory Panel to identify those cancers and diseases that are more likely to develop in human beings after exposure to low-level radiation or after working in uranium mines. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint such personnel as may be necessary to enable the Advisory Panel to carry out its functions under this Act. Requires that the Administrator of the General Services Administration shall provide such administrative support services as the Advisory Panel may request. Directs the Advisory Panel to report its findings to Congress within one year. Exempts the Advisory Panel from the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to assess the adverse health effects resulting from the atomic weapons test program at the Nevada test site. Transfers to the Department of Health and Human Services all functions of the Department of Energy concerning the health effects of radiation on human beings.

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Timeline

1. 15 July 1981

   Introduced

   Read second time and referred jointly to Senate Committees on Labor and Human Resources; Judiciary by unanimous consent.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 15 July 1981

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 23 July 1981

   Referred

   Committee on Judiciary, Referred to Subcommittee on Agency Administration.

   Source: Committee

4. 29 July 1981

   Committee

   Committee on Labor and Human Resources requested executive comment from Health and Human Services Department; GAO; OMB.

   Source: Committee

5. 27 October 1981

   Committee

   Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Hearings held.

   Source: Committee

6. 9 November 1981

   Committee

   Committee on Labor and Human Resources received executive comment from Health and Human Services Department. Unfavorable.

   Source: Committee

7. 12 March 1982

   Committee

   Subcommittee on Agency Administration. Hearings held.

   Source: Committee

8. 20 April 1982

   Reported

   Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

9. 6 May 1982

   Committee

   Subcommittee on Agency Administration. Approved for full committee consideration with amendments favorably.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 15 July 1981

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Garn, E. J. (Jake) [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Cannon, Howard W. [D-NV] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Laxalt, Paul D. [R-NV] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Randolph, Jennings [D-WV] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Hawkins, Paula [R-FL] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Metzenbaum, Howard M. [D-OH] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Pell, Claiborne [D-RI] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Hatfield, Mark O. [R-OR] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Matsunaga, Spark M. [D-HI] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Moynihan, Daniel Patrick [D-NY] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Denton, Jeremiah [R-AL] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Mathias, Charles McC., Jr. [R-MD] · R · Sponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing
• · sshr00 · Standing

Related records

• amends ← To include veterans exposed during their service to radiation from the detonation of nuclear devices among those eligible to recover from the United States for diseases or disabilities associated with such exposure.