The Vieques Recovery and Redevelopment Act compensates residents of Vieques, Puerto Rico—a small island municipality that hosted U.S. military operations for nearly 60 years—for health problems caused by exposure to military contamination. The bill provides individual payments ranging from $50,000 to $110,000 depending on the number of qualifying diseases (cancer, hypertension, cirrhosis, kidney disease, diabetes, or heavy metal poisoning), with payments available to residents with at least 5 years on the island and their heirs. The legislation also directs the federal government to build and operate a specialized medical facility on the island with a trauma center and cancer treatment capabilities, provide free health screenings, offer interim air transport for urgent medical needs, and fund environmental cleanup efforts—all compensating the municipality for hosting military activities that allegedly caused widespread illness. The bill caps total compensation at $1 billion and establishes a 15-year filing deadline, with claims processed by a court-appointed Special Master within 150 days of filing.
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