In adtlition to the provisions included in H.R. 3756 as passed by the
0
House of Representatives, the Admi istration recommends the enactment
£ two other provisions.
The first of these provisions involves additional compensation for a
limited miber of nuclear fallout victims.
Section 104 of P.L. 95-134, paragraph a(1), provided for the compensation
to the inhabitants of Rongelap Atoll and Otirik Atoll for removal of the
thyroid gland or a neurofibroma. in the neck or the development of
hypothyroidism or a radiation-related malignancy that may have
arisen due to radiation exposure sustained as a result of a themmnuclear detonation at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands an
March 1, 1954. At the time. P.L. 95-134 (H.R. 6550) was being considered,
all concerned with the problem of the fallout victims believed that
@ection 104 of H.R. 6550 covered allpotential cases for compensation.
Recently, however, several cases which warrant additional compensation
have been called to cor attention. These cases imolve individuals
who have already received compensation under section 104(a) (1) af
P.L. 95-134. In the opinion of the Administration, these individuals
should receive additional compensation. However, this Department's
Solicitor has determined that one of the individuals is not entitled
to receive additional payments urmier section 104(a) (3) of P.L. 95-13,
wince she received compensation under section 104 (a) (1).
Two of these individuals were compensated under section 104 (a) (1)
for one condition and later developed another condition listed in
section 104(a) (1). The third individual of whom we are aware had her
parathyroid glands remved in error at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Guam.
It was her thyroid gland which should have been removed because of her
exposure to radioactive material which fell on Rongelap in 194.
The
parathyroidectomy presents a more serious condition than a thyroidectamy,
with more serious consequences.
In view of the very special circumstances surrounding these cases,
the Administration requests that the Secretary be authorized to grant
additional compassionate compensation. It recommends the following
corrective legislation:
‘
Sec. 104(a) (3) of Public Law 95-134 (91 Stat. 1159) is hereby
amended by deleting all after the word “cause” and inserting
in lieu thereof the following words, “, even if such an individual
has been compensated under paragraph (1) of this section.°.