Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The bill amends RECA by inserting new Section 5A creating a compensation pathway for individuals who were physically present in affected areas near Manhattan Project waste sites (specific ZIP codes in MO, TN, AK, KY) for, provides the actual text of new Section 5A to be inserted into RECA, and directs the Secretary of Energy, through the Office of Legacy Management, to award a cooperative agreement by September 30, 2025 to an eligible association (consortium of Alaska-based higher education institutions. It relies on appropriations, definition changes, compliance mandates, and grants. The main policy areas are Healthcare, Energy, and Education.
Who Benefits and How
Uranium miners employed between 1971 and 1990 could gain revenue opportunities, Residents of affected ZIP codes in Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska, Kentucky could gain revenue opportunities, and Residents of Manhattan Project waste site communities who developed cancer could gain revenue opportunities.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund could face higher costs, Attorney General would take on compliance duties, and Federal treasury could face higher costs.
Key Provisions
- Amends RECA by inserting new Section 5A creating a compensation pathway for individuals who were physically present in affected areas near Manhattan Project waste sites (specific ZIP codes in MO, TN, AK, KY) for...
- Provides the actual text of new Section 5A to be inserted into RECA.
- Directs the Secretary of Energy, through the Office of Legacy Management, to award a cooperative agreement by September 30, 2025 to an eligible association (consortium of Alaska-based higher education institutions...
- Provides extends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund for 6 years after the date of enactment (replacing the previous termination date). Also changes the post-termination wind-down period from 2 years to 6...
- Exempts significantly expands uranium mining compensation eligibility: extends qualifying employment period from December 31, 1971 to December 31, 1990.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
The bill amends RECA by inserting new Section 5A creating a compensation pathway for individuals who were physically present in affected areas near Manhattan Project waste sites (specific ZIP codes in MO, TN, AK, KY) for, provides the actual text of new Section 5A to be inserted into RECA, and directs the Secretary of Energy, through the Office of Legacy Management, to award a cooperative agreement by September 30, 2025 to an eligible association (consortium of Alaska-based higher education institutions.
Key Policy Areas
Healthcare, Energy, Education
Primary Purpose
The bill amends RECA by inserting new Section 5A creating a compensation pathway for individuals who were physically present in affected areas near Manhattan Project waste sites (specific ZIP codes in MO, TN, AK, KY) for, provides the actual text of new Section 5A to be inserted into RECA, and directs the Secretary of Energy, through the Office of Legacy Management, to award a cooperative agreement by September 30, 2025 to an eligible association (consortium of Alaska-based higher education institutions.
Policy Domains
Title I: Radiation Exposure Compensation Expansion Act
Identified Gains
- Uranium miners employed between 1971 and 1990
- Residents of affected ZIP codes in Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska, Kentucky
- Residents of Manhattan Project waste site communities who developed cancer
- Core drillers in uranium and vanadium mining
- Workers with combined mining/milling/drilling/transport histories
Identified Costs
- Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund
- Attorney General
- Federal treasury
- Department of Justice / Attorney General
- Government Accountability Office / Comptroller General
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Hawley (for himself, Mr. Luján, Mr. Schmitt, Mr. Heinrich, …
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in Senate
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
All RECA-eligible claimants, Atmospheric nuclear test radiation exposure victims, Family members of uranium miners and millers
Attorney General, Department of Energy / Office of Legacy Management, Department of Justice / Attorney General
Core drillers in uranium and vanadium mining, Uranium miners employed between 1971 and 1990, Workers with combined mining/milling/drilling/transport histories
Alaska Native tribes near Amchitka nuclear test site, Indian tribe members seeking RECA compensation
Alaska-based universities and nonprofits, Universities and nonprofits conducting environmental health research
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_attorney_general"
- → Attorney General of the United States
- "the_secretary_of_energy"
- → Secretary of Energy, acting through the Director of the Office of Legacy Management
- "the_president"
- → President of the United States (Special Exposure Cohort designation)
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Health and Human Services (for grant program)
- "the_attorney_general"
- → Attorney General of the United States
- "the_comptroller_general"
- → Comptroller General of the United States
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
For Manhattan Project waste claims, affected area means specific ZIP codes in Missouri (21 ZIP codes around St. Louis), Tennessee (14 ZIP codes around Oak Ridge), Alaska (2 ZIP codes around Amchitka), and Kentucky (3 ZIP codes around Paducah). Physical presence requires 2+ years after January 1, 1949.
For atmospheric testing claims, affected area is expanded to mean Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Guam (with New Mexico only for certain pre-1944 claims and Guam only for certain 1962 claims).
Any individual employed to obtain cylindrical rock samples of uranium or vanadium by means of a borehole drilling machine for the purpose of mining uranium or vanadium. A new worker category added to RECA uranium mining eligibility.
For Manhattan Project waste claims, specified disease includes leukemia (excluding CLL, onset 2+ years after exposure), multiple myeloma, lymphoma (excluding Hodgkin's), and primary cancer of 18 specified organs including thyroid, breast, lung, colon, and others.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology