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Background and Purpose of this Report
Section 417C of the Public Health Service (PHS)
Act, "Grants for Education, Prevention, and
Early Detection of Radiogenic Cancers and Diseases,"
includes a requirement that the Secretary submit
an annual report summarizing the expenditures
and programs funded under this section.
Background
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)
Amendments of 2000 (P. L. 106-245), amended
the PHS Act to add section 417C, "Grants
for Education, Prevention, and Early Detection
of Radiogenic Cancers and Diseases." Section
417C provides the authority for competitive
grants to States, local governments, and appropriate
health care organizations to initiate and support
programs for: (1) individual cancer screening,
(2) medical referrals, (3) public information
dissemination, and (4) facilitation of RECA
claim documentation. Administration for this
authority designated as the Radiation Exposure
Screening and Education Program (RESEP) was
delegated by the Secretary of the Department
of Health and Human Services to the Health Resources
and Services Administration (HRSA).
Purpose
The purpose of the RESEP is to aid those individuals
who may have been adversely affected by the
mining, transporting and processing of uranium,
and the testing of nuclear weapons for the Nation's
weapons arsenal. The people exposed included
those who participated onsite in a test involving
the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device
within the official boundaries of the Nevada
or Trinity Test Sites; or those who were physically
present in one of the affected areas downwind
of the Nevada Test Site. In addition, uranium
mine employees were exposed to large doses of
radiation and other airborne hazards in the
mine environment that together are presumed
to have produced an increased incidence of lung
cancer and respiratory diseases among these
mine workers. This prevention grant program
is designed according to its Congressional intent
to help individuals and their families detect
potential radiological illnesses earlier, allowing
them to be treated more successfully and cost
effectively.
In September 2005, HRSA awarded grants to seven
organizations in five southwestern States (Arizona,
Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah) with
a 3-year project period. The University of Nevada
in Reno was the newly awarded grantee in the
2005 competitive award cycle. Table 1 provides
a description of the seven grantees, the proposed
service area, and the amount awarded. For ease
of review, Definitions, Eligibility, and Screening
Requirements are defined at the end of this
report.
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