Low-Dose Radiation Research Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 35, the Low-Dose Radiation Research Act of
2015. I would like to begin by thanking my colleagues from Illinois,
Mr. Hultgren and Mr. Lipinski, for introducing this bipartisan
legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

H.R. 35 authorizes an important research program carried out by the
Department of Energy's Office of Science to examine the health impacts
of exposure to low doses of radiation, such as doses resulting from
certain medical tests, nuclear waste cleanup activities, or even
terrorism events like dirty bombs. This program builds on the
Department of Energy's unique biological research expertise and
capabilities, which led to the establishment of the successful Human
Genome Project that paved the way for important breakthroughs in modern
medicine.

This bill authorizes a National Academies study to identify current
scientific challenges in this area and to help guide the program's
long-term research agenda well into the next decade. A similar bill
passed the House late last Congress with overwhelming support, and it
is my hope that this will again pass and move to the Senate for their
consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the committee, Mr.
Smith, and the ranking member, Ms. Johnson, and the sponsors of this
bill, Mr. Hultgren and Mr. Lipinski.

The bill before us today represents a true bipartisan effort and will
help protect the health of our constituents. Passage of this bill is a
positive way to start this new Congress, and I urge its adoption.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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