Radiation Health Research Act

This Act may be cited as the “Radiation Health Research Act”.

Part F of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 287d et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“486C. Health effects of nuclear radiation on women.—

(a) Authority To conduct program.— Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Director of NIH, acting through the Director of the Office, (in this section referred to as the “Director”) shall design and implement a program to study the health effects of nuclear radiation on women.

(b) Program requirements.— In designing and implementing the program, the Director shall—

(1) specifically examine the health effects of nuclear radiation on pregnant women, adolescent girls, and pre-adolescent girls;

(2) provide for longitudinal monitoring of individuals participating in the program over a period of not less than 10 years;

(3) provide opportunities for collaborative, interagency, multidisciplinary, and innovative research;

(4) ensure that the methodology and scope of the program are consistent with the best available scientific evidence; and

(5) ensure that the program is conducted in a confidential manner to protect the privacy rights of the individuals participating in the program.

(c) Consultation.— The Director shall carry out the program in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Energy, the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, and other Federal and non-Federal stakeholders.

(d) Reports to Congress.— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress a report containing—

(1) a summary of the results of the program, including the findings of the Director;

(2) an assessment of the status of existing research on the health effects of nuclear radiation on women and current knowledge gaps; and

(3) recommendations for a national strategy to minimize any adverse health effects of nuclear radiation on women, including through the use of a public education campaign.”.