United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 6 D · 3 R cosponsors

S 243 — Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act

Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 9 sponsors

    1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 D · 3 R) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act This bill reauthorizes and expands programs that compensate individuals who were exposed to radiation during certain nuclear testing or uranium mining and who subsequently developed medical conditions, including cancers.Under current law, compensation is payable to individuals based on requirements including the (1) dates when exposure occurred, (2) duration of exposure, (3) type of exposure, and (4) resulting medical condition. Among other changes to this program, the bill (1) extends the eligible dates when qualifying atmospheric exposure occurred, (2) authorizes compensation to individuals with combined work histories in uranium mining, (3) adds core drilling as an eligible mining occupation, and (4) increases the amount of compensation awarded to qualifying individuals. The bill also expands this program to compensate individuals located in specified areas in Alaska, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee associated with waste from the Manhattan Project and who subsequently developed specified types of cancer.The bill extends until five years after this bill's enactment the statute of limitations for the filing of claims. The bill also expands eligibility under an existing occupational illness compensation program for former Department of Energy employees.The bill also establishes a grant program for institutions of higher education to study the epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling among individuals without occupational exposure.The bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report to Congress on the unmet medical benefits coverage for individuals who were exposed to radiation in atmospheric nuclear tests conducted by the federal government.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act by extending the period for filing claims and enhancing compensation provisions for certain affected individuals.

  • 42 U.S.C. 2210 note

    2-year → 6-year

    Extends the termination period of the fund from 2 years to 6 years after enactment.

  • 42 U.S.C. 2210 note

    The Fund shall terminate 2 years after the date of the enactment of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. → The Fund shall terminate 6 years after the date of the enactment of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2025.

    Changes the expiration timeline of the fund to provide longer access to compensation.

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

    Establishes a new section to address compensation claims specifically relating to Manhattan Project waste.

  • A claimant shall receive compensation for a claim made under this Act, as described in subsection (b) or (c), if--

    Introduces eligibility criteria for claimants under the new section on Manhattan Project waste.

  • 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).

    Sets a minimum compensation amount for individuals living when claims are submitted.

  • 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.

    Provides compensation arrangements for surviving children of deceased claimants.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 538 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (538)

538 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 538 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

veterans healthcare labor
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Frequently asked questions

What does S 243 do?
Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act This bill reauthorizes and expands programs that compensate individuals who were exposed to radiation during certain nuclear testing or uranium mining and who subsequently developed medical conditions, including cancers.Under current law, compensation is payable to individuals based on requirements including the (1) dates when exposure occurred, (2) duration of exposure, (3) type of exposure, and (4) resulting medical condition. Among other changes to this program, the bill (1) extends the eligible dates when qualifying atmospheric exposure occurred, (2) authorizes compensation to individuals with combined work histories in uranium mining, (3) adds core drilling as an eligible mining occupation, and (4) increases the amount of compensation awarded to qualifying individuals. The bill also expands this program to compensate individuals located in specified areas in Alaska, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee associated with waste from the Manhattan Project and who subsequently developed specified types of cancer.The bill extends until five years after this bill's enactment the statute of limitations for the filing of claims. The bill also expands eligibility under an existing occupational illness compensation program for former Department of Energy employees.The bill also establishes a grant program for institutions of higher education to study the epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling among individuals without occupational exposure.The bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report to Congress on the unmet medical benefits coverage for individuals who were exposed to radiation in atmospheric nuclear tests conducted by the federal government.
Who sponsors S 243?
S 243 is sponsored by Hawley, Josh (Republican), Luján, Ben Ray (Democratic), Schmitt, Eric (Republican), Heinrich, Martin (Democratic), Kelly, Mark (Democratic), Crapo, Mike (Republican), Hickenlooper, John W. (Democratic), Rosen, Jacky (Democratic), and Gallego, Ruben (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 243?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 243?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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