This bill creates two programs to recognize and compensate civilians who participated in the U.S. atomic and nuclear weapons programs. First, it establishes the Atomic Civilians Commemorative Service Medal to honor current and former civilian employees and contractors who were involved in atomic weapons detonations, radiation cleanup, or radiation exposure during World War II. Second, the bill creates a compensation program offering $75,000 payments to workers who directly participated in radioactive cleanup and have since been diagnosed with radiation-related diseases, including various cancers, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to design the medal, create application processes, and verify eligibility through supporting documentation. Importantly, compensation awards will be reduced by any payments recipients already received under the existing Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, preventing double compensation. The bill does not specify total funding amounts or implementation timelines beyond requiring the programs to be established and applications to be made available.
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