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HR 5840 98th Congress House

Atomic Veterans Relief Act

Official title: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide disability and death allowances, compensation, health care, and other benefits to veterans and the sur… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide disability and death allowances, compensation, health care, and other benefits to veterans and the survivors of veterans who participated in atomic tests or the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and suffer from diseases that may be attributable to ionizing radiation.

Introduced: June 13, 1984 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Advisory bodiesBirth defectsCancerDefense articles
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Eye diseasesFederal advisory bodiesGovernment liabilityGovernment records, documents, and informationHealthInformation servicesLeukemiaLiability for nuclear damagesMilitary dependentsNuclear energyNuclear weaponsRadiationResearchSurvivors' benefitsVeterans' disability compensationWar casualtiesWorld War II
This bill died when the 98th Congress ended
It never became law before the 98th Congress (1983–1984) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 13, 1984
Referred to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Jun 13, 1984
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 13, 1984

Referred to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Atomic Veterans Relief Act - Provides disability benefits to veterans who participated in atomic tests or the occupation of Hiroshima or Nagasaki after World War II and who, within 40 years, suffer from diseases that may be attributable to ionizing radiation, including: (1) leukemia, (2) polycythemia vera; (3) carcinoma of the thyroid; (4) chromosomal damage; (5) posterior subcapsular cataracts; and (6) other radiogenic cancers. Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to promulgate regulations to resolve benefit claims and provide standards for benefit determinations and the inclusion of additional diseases as the basis for benefits. Provides for survivors' benefits.

Directs the Administrator to report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees of Congress whenever legislative action related to the subject matter of the regulations is needed.

Establishes in the Veterans Administration the Advisory Committee on Veterans Exposed to Ionizing Radiation to report annually to the Administrator on the administration of the benefits provided by this Act. Directs the Administrator to submit such report to Congress with appropriate comments.

Provides medical care for the treatment of genetic or congenital disorders in the natural children of affected veterans. Entitles such children to educational assistance.

Requires the Administrator to carry out an outreach, screening, and counseling program to serve those veterans, dependents, and survivors entitled to benefits under this Act. Directs the Administrator to establish a research and training program for the diagnosis and treatment of disabilities caused by exposure to ionizing radiation, including a centralized registry of claims. Directs the Administrator to make a comprehensive report on these programs in the annual report to Congress under this Act.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5840: Atomic Veterans Relief Act. 98th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-5840/
MLA
"H.R. 5840: Atomic Veterans Relief Act." 98th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-5840/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5840, 98th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-5840/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5840: Atomic Veterans Relief Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-5840/)
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