Expressing support for the designation of July 16 as "National Atomic Veterans Day".

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 687 Expressing support for the designation of July 16 as ‘‘National Atomic Veterans Day’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOVEMBER 8, 2019 Ms. SPANBERGER (for herself and Ms. JACKSON LEE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of July 16 as ‘‘National Atomic Veterans Day’’. Whereas more than 200,000 veterans of the United States, in service during the period between 1945 and 1963, par- ticipated in nuclear tests, served with the United States military occupation forces in or around Hiroshima and Nagasaki before 1946, or were held as prisoners of war in or near Hiroshima or Nagasaki; Whereas July 16 is the anniversary of ‘‘Trinity’’, the world’s first detonation of a nuclear device in Alamogordo, New Mexico on July 16, 1945; Whereas the health of the atomic veterans and of many of the children of such veterans may have been adversely af- fected by exposure to ionizing radiation; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 Nov 09, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR687.IH HR687 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 687 IH Whereas atomic veterans were not told of the hazards they faced from exposure to ionizing radiation, often were pro- vided with little protection from such exposure, and were provided with no follow-up medical care or other moni- toring to determine the health consequences of such expo- sure; Whereas many atomic veterans were prevented by secrecy laws or oaths from seeking medical care or disability compensation from the United States Department of Vet- erans Affairs (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘VA’’) for condi- tions they may have developed as a result of radiation ex- posure; Whereas in 1996, the United States Congress repealed the Nuclear Radiation and Secrecy Agreements Act, freeing atomic veterans to describe their military involvement in nuclear testing in order to file for VA benefits; Whereas atomic veterans may be eligible for free medical care from the VA and compensation in the form of a partial or full service-connected disability allowance, including potential payments to a surviving spouse or children; Whereas the National Association of Atomic Veterans was formed in 1979 to help atomic veterans obtain medical care and assistance; Whereas, on July 15, 1983, President Ronald Reagan did designate, in accordance with Public Law 98–54, July 16, 1983, as ‘‘National Atomic Veterans’ Day’’; Whereas the Public Law 98–54 designated the single day of July 16, 1983, as ‘‘National Atomic Veterans’ Day’’ and not in each succeeding year; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 Nov 09, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR687.IH HR687 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 687 IH Whereas individual States have designated July 16 in each year, as ‘‘National Atomic Veterans Day’’: Now, there- fore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National 2 Atomic Veterans Day’’; 3 (2) encourages the President to issue a procla- 4 mation calling upon the people of the United States 5 to observe National Atomic Veterans Day with ap- 6 propriate ceremonies and activities; and 7 (3) acknowledges the important role played by 8 the atomic veterans in the defense of the Nation. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:57 Nov 09, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR687.IH HR687 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS