Low-Dose Radiation Research Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 4733 To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide for a low-dose radiation basic research program. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 18, 2019 Mr. POSEY (for himself, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. WEBER of Texas, and Mr. BABIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide for a low-dose radiation basic research program. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Low-Dose Radiation 4 Research Act of 2019’’. 5 SEC. 2. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM. 6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle G of title IX of the En- 7 ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16311 et seq.) is 8 amended by inserting after section 977 (42 U.S.C. 16317) 9 the following new section: 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 Oct 23, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4733.IH H4733 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 4733 IH ‘‘SEC. 977A. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM. 1 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 2 basic research program on low-dose and low dose-rate ra- 3 diation to— 4 ‘‘(1) enhance the scientific understanding of, 5 and reduce uncertainties associated with, the effects 6 of exposure to low-dose and low dose-rate radiation; 7 and 8 ‘‘(2) inform improved risk-assessment and risk- 9 management methods with respect to such radiation. 10 ‘‘(b) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—In carrying out the 11 program required under subsection (a), the Secretary 12 shall— 13 ‘‘(1) formulate scientific goals for low-dose and 14 low dose-rate radiation basic research in the United 15 States; 16 ‘‘(2) identify ongoing scientific challenges for 17 understanding the long-term effects of ionizing radi- 18 ation on biological systems; 19 ‘‘(3) develop a long-term strategic and 20 prioritized basic research agenda to address such 21 scientific challenges in coordination with other re- 22 search efforts; 23 ‘‘(4) identify and, to the extent possible, quan- 24 tify, potential monetary and health-related benefits 25 to Federal agencies, the general public, industry, re- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 Oct 23, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4733.IH H4733 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HR 4733 IH search communities, and other users of information 1 produced by such research program; 2 ‘‘(5) leverage the collective body of knowledge 3 from existing low-dose and low dose-rate radiation 4 research; and 5 ‘‘(6) engage with other Federal agencies, re- 6 search communities, and potential users of informa- 7 tion produced under this section, including institu- 8 tions concerning radiation research, medical physics, 9 radiology, health physics, and emergency response. 10 ‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the program, 11 the Secretary, in coordination with the Physical Science 12 Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology 13 Council, shall— 14 ‘‘(1) support the directives under section 106 of 15 the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act 16 (42 U.S.C. 6601 note); 17 ‘‘(2) ensure that the Office of Science of the 18 Department of Energy consults and coordinates with 19 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 20 the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental 21 Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, the 22 Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Depart- 23 ment of Homeland Security; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 Oct 23, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4733.IH H4733 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HR 4733 IH ‘‘(3) advise and assist the National Science and 1 Technology Council on policies and initiatives in ra- 2 diation biology, including enhancing scientific knowl- 3 edge of the effects of low-dose and low dose-rate ra- 4 diation on biological systems to improve radiation 5 risk-assessment and risk-management methods; and 6 ‘‘(4) identify opportunities to stimulate inter- 7 national cooperation relating to low-dose and low 8 dose-rate radiation and leverage research and knowl- 9 edge from sources outside of the United States. 10 ‘‘(d) RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 180 days 11 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 12 transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- 13 nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 14 on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 4-year 15 research plan that identifies and prioritizes basic research 16 needs relating to low-dose and low dose-rate radiation. In 17 developing such plan, the Secretary shall incorporate the 18 components described in subsection (b). 19 ‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 20 ‘‘(1) LOW-DOSE RADIATION.—The term ‘low- 21 dose radiation’ means a radiation dose of less than 22 100 millisieverts. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 Oct 23, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4733.IH H4733 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 5 •HR 4733 IH ‘‘(2) LOW DOSE-RATE RADIATION.—The term 1 ‘low dose-rate radiation’ means a radiation dose rate 2 of less than 5 millisieverts per hour. 3 ‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec- 4 tion shall be construed to subject any research carried out 5 by the Secretary for the program under this section to 6 any limitations described in 977(e). 7 ‘‘(g) FUNDING.—For purposes of carrying out this 8 section, the Secretary is authorized to make available from 9 funds provided to the Biological and Environmental Re- 10 search Program— 11 ‘‘(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 12 ‘‘(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 13 ‘‘(3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and 14 ‘‘(4) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.’’. 15 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of con- 16 tents for subtitle G of title IX of the Energy Policy Act 17 of 2005 is amended by inserting after the item relating 18 to section 977 the following: 19 ‘‘977A. Low-dose radiation research program.’’. SEC. 3. SPENDING LIMITATION. 20 No additional funds are authorized to be appro- 21 priated to carry out this Act and the amendments made 22 by this Act, and this Act and such amendments shall be 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 Oct 23, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4733.IH H4733 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 6 •HR 4733 IH carried out using amounts otherwise available for such 1 purpose. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 Oct 23, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H4733.IH H4733 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS