Recognition of Forgotten Atomic Veterans and their Surviving Spouses Act of 2007

        [Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3794 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3794

To improve the availability of benefits for veterans and the surviving
spouses of veterans who were exposed while in military service to
ionizing radiation, and for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 10, 2007

Mr. Filner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, 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 improve the availability of benefits for veterans and the surviving
spouses of veterans who were exposed while in military service to
ionizing radiation, and for other purposes.

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 ``Recognition of Forgotten Atomic
Veterans and their Surviving Spouses Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVED ACCESS FOR VETERANS AND SURVIVING SPOUSES TO BENEFITS
UNDER RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT.

(a) Identification of Living Atomic Veterans and Surviving Spouses
of Deceased Atomic Veterans.--The Attorney General shall--
(1) obtain from the files of the Operations Office of the
Department of Energy in Nevada records showing the identity of
all atomic veterans;
(2) with respect to each atomic veteran for whom records
are obtained under paragraph (1), use the service serial number
of that veteran to obtain the veteran's social security number;
(3) with respect to each such atomic veteran who is
living--
(A) use that veteran's social security number to
locate the veteran; and
(B) advise that veteran of the provisions of the
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, including the
right of the veteran to file a claim under that Act;
and
(4) with respect to each such atomic veteran who is
deceased--
(A) use that veteran's social security number to
locate the surviving spouse of the veteran (if any);
and
(B) if a surviving spouse is located, advise that
surviving spouse of the provisions of the Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act, including the right of the
surviving spouse to file a claim under that Act.
(b) Assistance in Filing Claims.--The Attorney General shall assist
any atomic veteran or surviving spouse identified under subsection
(a)(3) or (a)(4), respectively, in filing a claim under the Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act, if the atomic veteran or surviving spouse
requests such assistance.
(c) Assitance From Other Agencies.--The heads of other Departments
and agencies of the United States shall assist the Attorney General as
necessary to enable the Attorney General to carry out the provisions of
this section, including assistance in providing access to records
needed for the Attorney General to carry out this section.
(d) Atomic Veterans.--For purposes of this section, the term
``atomic veteran'' means a person who while serving in the Armed Forces
was exposed to ionizing radiation or fallout from the atmospheric
detonation of a nuclear device.

SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS PRESUMED TO BE SERVICE-CONNECTED WHEN
APPEARING IN RADIATION-EXPOSED VETERANS.

For purposes of paragraph (1) of section 1112(c) of title 38,
United States Code, any disease covered as of the date of the enactment
of this Act under section 3.309 or 3.311 of title 38 of the Code of
Federal Regulations shall be considered to be a disease specified in
paragraph (2) of section 1112(c) of title 38, United States Code.
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