To amend title 38, United States Code, to codify certain additional diseases as establishing a presumption of service-connection when occurring in veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during active military, naval, or air service, and for other purposes.

-Provision incorporated. See H.R. 1716, Title II, Section 201 and 202.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 20, 2004

Includes in the list of diseases presumed to be service-connected, in the case of radiation-exposed veterans, and therefore compensable for purposes of veterans' disability compensation and medical care, the following cancers: bone, brain, colon, lung, and ovarian. Includes as a covered radiation-risk activity service which, if performed as an employee of the Department of Energy, would qualify the individual for inclusion as a member of the Special Exposure Cohort under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000.

Provides that a radiation-exposed veteran who receives payment under provisions of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990 (such Act) shall not be deprived, because of such payment, of receipt of either veterans' disability compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation for service-connected radiation exposure, but there shall be deducted from the latter payment the amount of the payment under such Act.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Evans, Lane [D-IL-17] · D–IL

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

May 13, 2004
-Provision incorporated. See H.R. 1716, Title II, Section 201 and 202.
Apr 29, 2004
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 28, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Benefits.
Apr 20, 2004
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Apr 20, 2004
Introduced in House
Apr 20, 2004
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Apr 20, 2004 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 1716 · Veterans Earn and Learn Act of 2004

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4172 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4172, 108th Congress: To amend title 38, United States Code, to codify certain additional diseases as establishing a presumption of service-connection when occurring in veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during active military, naval, or air service, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/4172

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2004-04-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr4172/BILLS-108hr4172ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:35:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4172 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4172 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4172, 108th Congress: To amend title 38, United States Code, to codify certain additional diseases as establishing a presumption of service-connection when occurring in veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during active military, naval, or air service, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/4172

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2004-04-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr4172/BILLS-108hr4172ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:35:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4172 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4172 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4172, 108th Congress: To amend title 38, United States Code, to codify certain additional diseases as establishing a presumption of service-connection when occurring in veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during active military, naval, or air service, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/4172

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2004-04-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr4172/BILLS-108hr4172ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:35:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4172 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4172 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4172, 108th Congress: To amend title 38, United States Code, to codify certain additional diseases as establishing a presumption of service-connection when occurring in veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during active military, naval, or air service, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/4172

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2004-04-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/hr4172/BILLS-108hr4172ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:35:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4172 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.