| Our congratulations to the concerted efforts of people who stood up
and openly challenged a gross injustice to those who were damaged or killed
as a result of exposure to uranium used in nuclear weapons and fuels –
those who worked in the uranium mines and mills, and those who were downwind,
or at test sites. The people did their homework, developed the amendments,
had the work funded in a three year period, enlisted the support of Senators
Bingaman and Domenici of New Mexico, and Congress approved S.1438 this
week. S.1438 focuses on the language of the mandatory “Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act” which is contained within the defense authorizations
bill. It will authorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to be a
permanent appropriation, and now awaits the President’s signature.
S.1438
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (Engrossed in
Senate) SEC. 1066. RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT MANDATORY APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 3(e) of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 2210
note) is amended to read as follows:`(e) APPROPRIATION-`(1) IN GENERAL-
Subject to the limits in paragraph (2), there are appropriated, out of
any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year
2002, and each fiscal year thereafter through 2011, such sums as may be
necessary to the Fund for the purpose of making payments to eligible beneficiaries
under this Act.`(2) LIMITATION- Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph
(1) may not exceed--`(A) in fiscal year 2002, $172,000,000;`(B) in fiscal
year 2003, $143,000,000;`(C) in fiscal year 2004, $107,000,000;`(D) in
fiscal year 2005, $65,000,000;`(E) in fiscal year 2006, $47,000,000;`(F)
in fiscal year 2007, $29,000,000;`(G) in fiscal year 2008, $29,000,000;`(H)
in fiscal year 2009, $23,000,000;`(I) in fiscal year 2010, $23,000,000;
and`(J) in fiscal year 2011, $17,000,000.'.
Dine' CARE
10 A Town Plaza,
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Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 259-0199 Fax: (970) 259-3413
Web: dinecare.indigenousnative.org
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