Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3497 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3497

To amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act with respect to claims 
                      relating to uranium mining.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 18, 2023

 Ms. Hageman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
    Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act with respect to claims 
                      relating to 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 
2023''.

SEC. 2. CLAIMS RELATING TO URANIUM MINING.

    (a) 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;''.
    (b) 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 subsection (a), 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:
            (1) The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental 
        Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-123; 134 Stat. 146).
            (2) The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 
        116-127; 134 Stat. 178).
            (3) The CARES Act (Public Law 116-136; 134 Stat. 281).
            (4) The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care 
        Enhancement Act (Public Law 116-139; 134 Stat. 620).
            (5) Divisions M and N of the Consolidated Appropriations 
        Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat. 1182).
            (6) The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2; 
        135 Stat. 4).
            (7) An amendment made by a provision of law described in 
        any of paragraphs (1) through (6).

SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT.

    (a) 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.''.
    (b) 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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