Public Law 88-485
88th Congress, H. R. 1988
August 22, 1964
an Art
78 stat, 598»
To provide for the settlement of claims of certain residents of the Trost Territory
of the Pacific Islands.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress
hereby assumes compassionate responsibility to compensate inhabitants in the Rongelap Atoll, in the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands, for radiation exposures sustained by them as a result of a
thermonuclear detonation at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands on
March 1, 1954.
Sec. 2. There is authorized to be appropriated for such purpose out
of the Treasury of the United States the sum of $950,000 to be
expended by the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as
the “Secretary”) in the manner hereinafter provided. After deducting the amountprovided for in section 5 hereof, the Secretary shall
Rongelap Atoll,
Radiation vice
tims, sompen=
sation,
spproprlati en}
sondi tions for
payment,
pay the remainder in equal amounts to each of the affected inhabitants of Rongelap, except that (a) with respect to each such inhabitant
who has died before receipt of such payment, the Secretary shall pa
such sum to the heirs or legatees of such inhabitant, and (b) wit
respect to any such inhabitant who is less than twenty-one years of
age or who has been adjudged incompetent or insane, payment shall
be made, in the discretion of the Secretary, to a parent, relative, other
person, or institution for his benefit.
Sec. 3. The Secretary shall give advice concerning prudentfinancial
management to each person receiving & payment pursuantto this Act,
to the and that each such person will have information as to methods of
conserving his funds and asto suitable objects for which such funds
may be
ded.
ec. 4.
payment made under the provisions of this Act shall be
in full settlement and discharge
of all claims against the United States
arising out of the thermonuclear detonation on March 1, 1954.
Src. 5. The Secretary is authorized to pay reasonable attorney fees
for legal] services rendered on behalf of the people of Rongelap prior
to the date of enactment of this Act. Such fees shall be paid out cf
the funds authorized to be appropriated in section 2 of this Act, but
the total of such fees paid shall not exceed 5 per centum of the appropriated funds.
Sec. 6. The decisions of the Secretary in carrying out the provisions
of this Act shal] be fina] and not subject to review.
Approved August 22, 1964.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
HOUSE REPORT No. 110 (Comm. on Interior & Insular Affairs).
SENATE REPORT No, 1257 (Comm. on Interior & Insular Affairs).
CONGRESS IONAL RECORD:
Vol, 109 (1963): Apr. 1, considered and passed House.
Vol, 110 (1964): July 31, considered and passed Senate, amended,
Auge 12, House concurred in Senate amendment.
ePoO
35-130
Attemey fees,