Appendix A
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
SEC. 11001. LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH
(a) LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.—Section 306(c) of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18644(c)) is amended to read as follows:
“(c) LOW-DOSE RADIATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.—
“(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a research program on low-dose and low-dose-rate radiation to—
“(A) enhance the scientific understanding of, and reduce uncertainties associated with, the effects of exposure to low-dose and low-dose-rate radiation; and
“(B) inform improved risk-assessment and risk-management methods with respect to such radiation.
“(2) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—In carrying out the program required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
“(A) support and carry out the directives under section 106(b) of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 6601 note), except that such section shall be treated for purposes of this subsection as applying to low-dose and low-dose rate radiation research, in coordination with the Physical Science Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council;
“(B) identify and, to the extent possible, quantify, potential monetary and health-related impacts to Federal agencies, the general public, industry,
research communities, and other users of information produced by such research program;
“(C) leverage the collective body of knowledge from existing low-dose and low-dose-rate radiation research;
“(D) engage with other Federal agencies, research communities, and potential users of information produced under this section, including institutions performing or utilizing radiation research, medical physics, radiology, health physics, and emergency response measures; and
“(E) support education and outreach activities to disseminate information and promote public understanding of low-dose radiation, with a focus on non-emergency situations such as medical physics, space exploration, and naturally occurring radiation.
“(3) RESEARCH PLAN.—
“(A) Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Energy Act of 2020, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to develop a long-term strategic and prioritized research agenda for the program described in paragraph (2);
‘‘(B) Not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Energy Act of 2020, the Secretary shall transmit this research plan developed in subparagraph (A) to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
“(4) GAO STUDY.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Energy Act of 2020, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, a report on:
“(A) an evaluation of the program activities carried out under this section;
“(B) the effectiveness of the coordination and management of the program; and
“(C) the implementation of the research plan outlined in paragraph (3).
“(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:
“(A) LOW-DOSE RADIATION.—The term ‘low-dose radiation’ means a radiation dose of less than 100 millisieverts.
“(B) LOW-DOSE-RATE RADIATION.—The term ‘low-dose-rate radiation’ means a radiation dose rate of less than 5 millisieverts per hour.
“(7) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to subject any research carried out by the Secretary for the program under this subsection to any limitations described in section 977(e) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16317(e)).
“(8) FUNDING.—For purposes of carrying out this subsection, the Secretary is authorized to make available from funds provided to the Biological and Environmental Research Program—
“(A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
“(B) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
“(C) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and
“(D) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.”
(b) SPACE RADIATION RESEARCH.—Section 306 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18644) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(d) SPACE RADIATION RESEARCH.—The Secretary of Energy shall continue and strengthen collaboration with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on basic research to understand the effects and risks of human exposure to ionizing radiation in low Earth orbit, and in the space environment.”
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