To amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to provide for certain claims related to atmospheric testing, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · August 17, 2026
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 expands benefits for people exposed to radiation from nuclear weapons testing and the Manhattan Project by increasing compensation payments from $100,000 to $150,000 for affected individuals and from $25,000 to $150,000 for survivors of deceased victims, while also covering documented medical expenses related to radiation-induced diseases. The bill extends the deadline for filing claims by 15 years, moving it from 2027 to 2042, and extends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act fund authorization from 2028 to 2043, giving more people time to apply for assistance. Additionally, the legislation requires the Department of Energy to conduct an 18-month study investigating whether radioactive fallout from Pacific nuclear weapons testing between 1946 and 1962 affected residents of the Northern Mariana Islands and whether they should qualify for compensation. All changes take effect retroactively, allowing eligible individuals to submit claims immediately under the expanded benefits without waiting for the bill to be officially enacted.
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