Highlight any text to annotate

This joint resolution formally apologizes on behalf of the United States to the people of the Marshall Islands for the consequences of the nation's nuclear weapons testing program conducted there between 1946 and 1958. The U.S. conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands during the Cold War, including the Castle Bravo test in 1954, which was the largest nuclear explosion in U.S. history and exposed civilians to dangerous radiation levels. The testing caused widespread harm including cancer, birth defects, contaminated land, and unsafe resettlement of atolls, though the resolution acknowledges that previous cleanup efforts have improved conditions. The resolution calls on the Secretary of Energy to complete required groundwater studies around the Runit Dome containment structure on Enewetak Atoll and commits to providing healthcare coverage for military and civilian personnel who participated in nuclear site cleanup. The resolution affirms the importance of the Compact of Free Association between the U.S. and Marshall Islands, noting the strategic importance of the islands for national security and the U.S. commitment to address ongoing problems stemming from nuclear testing, though it clarifies the apology does not authorize new claims against the United States.

Add a comment

Sign in to comment on this bill.

Annotate the text

Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.