This bill expands the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include residents of Guam who were exposed to radiation from U.S. atmospheric nuclear testing in the Pacific. Currently, the law provides compensation to people exposed during testing in other Pacific locations, but Guam is excluded. The legislation allows Guamanians who were physically present in affected areas for at least one year between 1946 and 1992 (or during the specific period April-November 1962) to claim compensation for radiation-related illnesses, including leukemia and other specified diseases. The bill also adds renal disease to the list of compensable conditions and extends benefits to armed forces members who participated in radiological cleanup efforts at Enewetak Atoll between 1977 and 1980. By amending existing law rather than creating new funding mechanisms, the bill extends current compensation programs to Guam without specifying new budget allocations.
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