Politiparty
Politiparty
LeaderboardCongressBills

118th Congress Labor and Employment

S. 3853: Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act

Passed SenateMar 7, 2024

  1. Introduced (completed)Feb 29, 2024
  2. Passed Senate (completed)Mar 7, 2024, 69–30
  3. Passed House (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Passed Senate, Mar 7, 2024

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.

Read the full summary

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.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Key votes

House

Not yet voted

Passed the Senate Mar 7, 2024. Awaiting House action.

Senate final vote, Mar 7, 2024

On Passage of the Bill

Passed 69–30

Yea 69majority 50Nay 30

  • Democrats46 yea, 1 nay
  • Republicans20 yea, 28 nay
  • Independents3 yea, 1 nay

Broke with their party: James David Vance (R-OH), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Rounds (R-SD), James Risch (R-ID), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) voted Yea; and 12 more

See how all 99 members voted

Showing 100 of 100 members

Yea 69

Nay 30

Democrats (1) broke with their party

Independents (1) broke with their party

Not voting 1

Republicans (1)

Roll calls

1 vote on this bill

Showing 1 of 1 roll calls

  • Mar 7, 2024SenateOn Passage of the BillFinal passagePassed, yea-nay 69–30
    Roll call 75 tally by party
    PartyYeaNayPresentNot voting
    Democrats46100
    Republicans202801
    Independents3100
    Total693001

    Senate roll call 75: On Passage of the Bill. Bill Passed.

    22 crossed party lines: 1 Democrat, 20 Republicans, 1 Independent

    How each member voted (100)

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

6

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

192 points earned
  1. 1Joshua Hawley R-MO SponsorIntroduced, drew cross-party cosponsors, passed Senate; 1 maverick vote4 events+42
  2. 2Michael Crapo R-ID1 maverick vote; cosponsored; cosponsored bill passed3 events+10
  3. 2Eric Schmitt R-MO1 maverick vote; cosponsored; cosponsored bill passed3 events+10
  4. 4Marsha Blackburn R-TN1 maverick vote1 event+6
  5. 4John Boozman R-AR1 maverick vote1 event+6
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Joshua Hawley

History

  1. Mar 7, 2024Passed the Senate, 69–30.
  2. Feb 29, 2024Introduced in the Senate by Joshua Hawley.
Show the full action history (9 actions)
  1. Mar 11, 2024Received in the House.
  2. Mar 11, 2024Held at the desk.
  3. Mar 8, 2024Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  4. Mar 7, 2024Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  5. Mar 7, 2024Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate under the order of 2/29/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 69 - 30. Record Vote Number: 75.
  6. Mar 7, 2024Passed Senate under the order of 2/29/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 69 - 30. Record Vote Number: 75.
  7. Mar 5, 2024Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 336.
  8. Feb 29, 2024Introduced in Senate
  9. Feb 29, 2024Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.