Public Law 98–54

Joint Resolution

To authorize and request the President to designate July 16, 1983, as “National Atomic Veterans’ Day”.

Whereas approximately two hundred and fifty thousand veterans of the United States, while serving in the active military, naval, or air service during the period beginning in 1945 and ending in 1963, witnessed and participated in at least two hundred and thirty-five atmospheric nuclear weapons tests conducted in the Pacific Ocean and the Southwestern United States or served in Hiroshima or Nagasaki during the period of the occupation of Japan by the military forces of the United States immediately following World War II;

Whereas these Atomic Veterans patriotically served their country meeting the needs of national defense during this critical period in history;

Whereas the health of many of the Atomic Veterans and of many of the natural children of such veterans may have been adversely affected by the exposure of such veterans to ionizing radiation from the detonation of atomic or nuclear weapons;

Whereas the Congress recognizes the patriotism and dedication of the Atomic Veterans and the importance of resolving the issues arising from the problems caused by the exposure of the Atomic Veterans to ionizing radiation; and

Whereas July 16, 1983, is the anniversary of “Trinity”, the first detonation of an atomic weapon, which took place at Alamogordo Air Force Base in New Mexico on July 16, 1945: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Approved July 15, 1983.