108th Congress

Safety for Americans From Nuclear Weapons Testing Act

H.R. 3921/S. 2777

Background

According to the Findings section of H.R. 3921, nuclear testing in the United States occurred from 1951 until a moratorium took effect in 1992. Although research on the negative health effects of radiation fallout was conducted in 1961, the results were not released to the public until 1979. The only comprehensive radiation exposure study on iodine-131, one of more than 150 radionuclides, demonstrated that exposure was not limited to Nevada and Utah, but extended to all 48 contiguous States. If the Federal Government lifted the moratorium on nuclear testing, the bill would have called for an analysis of the environmental effects of testing, public notification, comprehensive and independent test monitoring, and extensive research efforts.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

This legislation would have required:

• The National Institutes of Health to award a grant to a university or consortium of universities to establish, maintain, and operate the National Center for the Study of Radiation and Human Health
• The National Cancer Institute, within 3 years of enactment, to 1) complete a study to estimate the dose of all radionuclides received by the U.S. population as a result of exposure to nuclear weapons tests conducted in the United States, 2) disaggregate the results of the study by organ, radionuclide, and demographic variables, 3) submit to Congress a report on the results of the study, and 4) make the results available to the public

Status and Outlook

H.R. 3921 was introduced by Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT) on March 9, 2004, and was jointly referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Resources. No further action occurred on this legislation during the 108th Congress.

S. 2777 was introduced by Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) on September 7, 2004, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. No further action occurred on this legislation during the 108th Congress.