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HR 1613 99th Congress House

Atomic Veterans Relief Act of 1985

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: March 20, 1985 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Birth defectsCancerCounselingDefense articles
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Eye diseasesGovernment liabilityGovernment records, documents, and informationHealthInformation servicesLeukemiaLiability for nuclear damagesMilitary dependentsNuclear energyNuclear weaponsRadiationRadioactive falloutResearchSurvivors' benefitsVeterans' disability compensationWar casualtiesWorld War II
This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 19, 1985
Executive Comment Received From VA.
Jul 16, 1985
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 16, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Compensation, Pension and Insurance.
Apr 23, 1985
Executive Comment Requested from VA.
Mar 20, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 20, 1985
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 19, 1985

Executive Comment Received From VA.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Atomic Veterans Relief Act of 1985 - 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 the Congress whenever legislative action related to the subject matter of the regulations is needed.

Requires proposed and final regulations to be published in the Federal Register by the Administrator within specified periods.

Establishes a presumption that a disability is service-connected for a veteran exposed to ionizing radiation while on active duty, notwithstanding the absence of Government records documenting any such exposure.

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 the Congress under this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1613: Atomic Veterans Relief Act of 1985. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1613/
MLA
"H.R. 1613: Atomic Veterans Relief Act of 1985." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1613/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1613, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1613/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1613: Atomic Veterans Relief Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-1613/)
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