,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #dcih  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,augu/ #c1 #bjbj,mr4   
,m55dez 7= himself & ,mr4 ,wick]7       
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !     
,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to provide       
comp5sation to c]ta9 resid5ts ( ! isl& (
 ,vieques1 ,pu]to ,rico1 = ! use ( su*  
isl& = milit>y read9ess1 & = o!r        
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,vieques ,recov]y &        
,r$evelopm5t ,act ( #bjbj4  #b4 ,f9d+s  
,! ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7        
,vieques is an isl& municipality (      
,pu]to ,rico1 measur+ approximately #ba 
miles long by #d miles wide1 & locat$   
approximately #h miles ea/ ( ! ma9 isl& 
( ,pu]to ,rico4  7#b7 ,prior to         
,hurricane ,m>ia1 resid5ts ( ,vieques 7 
s]v$ by an urg5t m$ical c>e facility1 ! 
,susana ,c5t5o ,family ,heal? ,c5t]1 &  
resid5ts _h to travel (f-isl& to obta9  
m$ical s]vices1 includ+ mo/ types (     
em]g5cy c>e because ! facility did n h !

 basic use ( x-ray ma*9es1 ,,ct ma*9es1 
,,ekg ma*9es1 ultras\nds1 or ,,pet      
scans4  7#c7 ,! pr$om9ant means (       
transport+ pass5g]s & goods betwe5      
,vieques & ! ma9 isl& ( ,pu]to ,rico is 
by f]ry boat s]vice1 & ov] ! ye>s1 !    
effici5cy ( ?is s]vice has frequ5tly be5
 disrupt$1 unreliable1 & difficult =    
canc] pati5ts to endure to receive      
treatm5t4 ,ea* trip to ,ceiba1 ,pu]to   
,rico1 = ! canc] pati5t is an additional
 out-(-pocket exp5se rang+ f #abj to    
#bjj4  7#d7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates ,milit>y   
ma9ta9$ a pres5ce on ! ea/]n & we/]n    
portions ( ,vieques = close to #fj ye>s1
 & us$ p>ts ( ! isl& z a tra9+ range    
dur+ ^? ye>s1 dropp+ ov] #hj million    
tons ( ordnance & o!r weaponry available
 to ! ,unit$ ,/ates milit>y s9ce ,_w ,w>
 ,,ii4  7#e7 ,! un9t5d$1 unkn[n1 &      
unavoidable consequ5ces ( ^! ex]cises 7 
to expose ,am]icans liv+ on ! isl&s to !
 residue ( t weaponry :i* includes heavy
 metals & _m o!r *emicals n[ kn[n to h>m
 human heal?4  7#f7 ,accord+ to         

,gov]nm5t & indep5d5t docum5tation1 !   
isl& ( ,vieques has high levels ( heavy 
metals & has be5 expos$ to *emical      
weapons & toxic *emicals4 ,s9ce !       
milit>y activity 9 ,vieques1 isl&       
resid5ts h suff]$ f ! heal? impacts f   
long-t]m exposure to environm5tal       
contam9ation z a result ( #fb ye>s (    
milit>y op]ations1 & h exp]i5c$ high]   
rates ( c]ta9 diseases among resid5ts1  
includ+ canc]1 cirrhosis1 hyp]t5sion1   
diabetes1 heavy metal diseases1 along ) 
_m unnam$ & uncategoriz$ illnesses4 ,^! 
toxic residues h caus$ ! ,am]ican       
resid5ts ( ,vieques to develop illnesses
 due to ongo+ exposure4  7#g7 ,9 #bjag1 
,vieques 0 hit by ,hurricane ,m>ia1 an  
unusually de/ructive /orm t deva/at$    
,pu]to ,rico & int5sifi$ ! exi/+        
humanit>ian crisis on ! isl& by de/roy+ 
exi/+ m$ical facilities4  7#h7 ,! m$ical
 sy/ems 9 place prior to ,hurricane     
,m>ia 7 unable to prop]ly h&le ! heal?  
crisis t exi/$ due to ! toxic residue   
left on ! isl& by ! milit>y's           

activities4  7#i7 ,aft] ,m>ia1 ! m$ical 
facility 0 clos$ due to damage &        
cont9ues to be unable to p]=m ev5 ! few 
basic s]vices t x did provide4 ,vieques 
ne$s a m$ical facility t c treat &      
address ! critical & urg5t ne$ to get   
life-sav+ m$ical s]vices to its         
resid5ts4 ,due to legal re/rictions1 !  
,f$]al ,em]g5cy ,managem5t ,ag5cy 79 ?is
 ,act ref]r$ to z ,,fema7 is unable to  
provide a hospital :]e its capabilities 
exce$ ! abilities ( ! facility t exi/$  
prior to ,m>ia2 !re=e ,vieques ne$s     
assi/ance to build a facility to manage 
! va/ heal? ne$s ( its resid5ts4  7#aj7 
,e ,am]ican has b5efitt$ f ! sacrifices 
( ^? ,am]icans :o h liv$ & are liv+ on  
,vieques & x is our int5t to ackn[l$ge t
 sacrifice & to treat ^? ,am]icans ) !  
same respect & appreciation t o!r       
,am]icans enjoy4  7#aa7 ,9 #bjab1 !     
resid5ts ( ,vieques 7 d5i$ ! ability to 
address _! ne$s 9 ,c\rt due to sov]eign 
immunity1 ,sn*ez v4 ,unit$ ,/ates1 ,no4 
#c3ji-;cv-#jabfj-;,,drd 7,d4,p4,r474    

,h[ev]1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,c\rt ( ,appeals
 = ! ,fir/ ,circuit ref]r$ ! issue to   
,congress & urg$ x to address !         
humanit>ian crisis4 ,?is bill attempts  
to satisfy t reque/ su* t ,am]icans liv+
 on ,vieques h a rem$y = ! suff]+ !y h  
endur$4  #c4 ,settlem5t ( claims aga9/ !
 ,unit$ ,/ates = c]ta9 resid5ts ( ! isl&
 ( ,vieques1 ,pu]to ,rico  7a7 ,9 g5]al 
,an individual claimant :o files a claim
 = comp5sation "u ?is section ) !       
,special ,ma/]1 appo9t$ pursuant to     
subsection 7c71 %all be aw>d$ monet>y   
comp5sation z describ$ 9 subsection 7b7 
if-- 7#a7 ! ,special ,ma/] det]m9es t ! 
claimant is or 0 a resid5t1 ! *ild ( a  
resid5t1 or an imm$iate heir 7z det]m9$ 
by ! laws ( ,pu]to ,rico7 ( a deceas$   
claimant on ! isl& ( ,vieques1 ,pu]to   
,rico1 dur+ or aft] ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
,gov]nm5t us$ ! isl& ( ,vieques1 ,pu]to 
,rico1 = milit>y read9ess2  7#b7 !      
claimant previ\sly fil$ a lawsuit or an 
adm9i/rative claim1 or files a claim n  
lat] ?an #abj days aft] ! date ( !      

enactm5t ( ?is ,act aga9/ ! ,unit$      
,/ates ,gov]nm5t = p]sonal injury1      
includ+ illness or dea? aris+ f use by !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t ( ! isl& (     
,vieques = milit>y read9ess2 &  7#c7 !  
claimant submits to ! ,special ,ma/]    
writt5 m$ical docum5tation t indicates !
 claimant contract$ a *ronic1 life      
?reat5+1 or physical or m5tal disease or
 illness1 includ+ canc]1 hyp]t5sion1    
cirrhosis1 kidney disease1 diabetes1 or 
a heavy metal poison+ dur+ or aft] !    
,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t us$ ! isl& (    
,vieques1 ,pu]to ,rico1 = milit>y       
read9ess4  7b7 ,am\nts ( aw>d  7#a7 ,9  
g5]al ,a claimant :o meets ! requirem5ts
 ( subsection 7a7 %all be aw>d$         
comp5sation z foll[s3 7,a7 #aj1jjj =    
exposure 9 ! case ( a claimant :o       
provides pro(-- 7i7 ( a previ\sly fil$  
lawsuit or adm9i/rative claim & n less  
?an #e ye>s ( resid5cy on ! isl& (      
,vieques1 ,pu]to ,rico2 or  7ii7 t !    
claimant is ! *ild ( a p>5t :o resid$ 9 
,vieques1 ,pu]to ,rico1 = n less ?an #e 

ye>s4  7,b7 #ej1jjj = #a disease        
describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#c74  7,c7    
#hj1jjj = #b diseases describ$ 9        
subsection 7a77#c74  7,d7 #aaj1jjj = #c 
or m diseases describ$ 9 subsection     
7a77#c74  7#b7 ,increase 9 aw>d ,9 !    
case t an individual receiv+ an aw>d "u 
p>agraph 7#a7 ( ?is subsection contracts
 ano!r disease "u subsection 7a77#c7 &  
files a new claim ) ! ,special ,ma/] =  
an additional aw>d n lat] ?an #aj ye>s  
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !  
,special ,ma/] may aw>d ! individual an 
am\nt t is equal to ! diff]5ce betwe5-- 
7,a7 ! am\nt t ! individual w\ld h be5  
eligible to receive _h ! disease be5    
contract$ be=e ! individual fil$ an     
initial claim "u subsection 7a72 &  7,b7
 ! am\nt receiv$ by ! individual        
pursuant to p>agraph 7#a74  7#c7        
,deceas$ claimants ,9 ! case ( an       
individual :o dies be=e mak+ a claim "u 
?is section or a claimant :o dies be=e  
receiv+ an aw>d "u ?is section1 any     
imm$iate heir to ! individual or        

claimant1 z det]m9$ by ! laws ( ,pu]to  
,rico1 %all be eligible = "o ( ! foll[+ 
aw>ds3 7,a7 ,comp5sation 9 accordance ) 
p>agraph 7#a71 divid$ among any su*     
heir4  7,b7 ,comp5sation bas$ on ! age (
 ! deceas$ z foll[s3 7i7 ,9 ! case ( an 
individual or claimant :o dies be=e     
atta9+ #bj ye>s ( age1 #aaj1jjj1 divid$ 
among any su* heir4  7ii7 ,9 ! case ( an
 individual or claimant :o dies be=e    
atta9+ #dj ye>s ( age1 #hj1jjj1 divid$  
among any su* heir4  7iii7 ,9 ! case (  
an individual or claimant :o dies be=e  
atta9+ #fj ye>s ( age1 #ej1jjj1 divid$  
among any su* heir4  7c7 ,appo9tm5t (   
special ma/]  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,attorney
 ,g5]al %all appo9t a ,special ,ma/] n  
lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act to consid] claims by
 individuals & ! municipality4  7#b7    
,qualifications ,! ,attorney ,g5]al %all
 consid] ! foll[+ 9 *oos+ ! ,special    
,ma/]3 7,a7 ,! individual's exp]i5ce 9 !
 process+ ( victims' claims 9 relation  
to =eign or dome/ic gov]nm5ts4  7,b7 ,! 

individual's balance ( exp]i5ce 9       
repres5t+ ! int]e/s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & 
individual claimants4  7,c7 ,!          
individual's exp]i5ce 9 matt]s (        
national security4  7,d7 ,! individual's
 demon/rat$ abilities 9 inve/igation &  
fact f9d+s 9 complex factual matt]s4    
7,e7 ,any exp]i5ce ! individual has _h  
advis+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t4  7d7  
,aw>d am\nts relat$ to claims by !      
,municipality ( ,vieques  7#a7 ,aw>d ,! 
,special ,ma/]1 9 ex*ange = its         
adm9i/rative claims1 %all provide !     
foll[+ z comp5sation to ! ,municipality 
( ,vieques3 7,a7 ,/aff ,! ,special ,ma/]
 %all provide m$ical /aff1 & o!r        
res\rces necess>y to build & op]ate a   
level ?ree trauma c5t] 79 ?is section1  
ref]r$ to z m$ical facility7 ) a canc]  
c5t] & r5al dialysis unit & its         
equipm5t4 ,! m$ical facility %all be    
able to treat life ?reat5+1 *ronic1     
heavy metal1 & physical & m5tal         
diseases4 ,! m$ical facility %all be    
able to provide basic x-ray1 ,,ekg1     

int]nal m$ic9e exp]tise1 m$ical         
coord9ation p]sonnel & case manag]s1    
ultras\nd1 & res\rces necess>y to scre5 
resid5ts = canc] & ! o!r prevail+ heal? 
problems4  7,b7 ,op]ations ,! ,special  
,ma/] %all fund ! op]ations ( ! m$ical  
facility to provide m$ical c>e =        
p$iatric & adult pati5ts :o reside on ! 
isl& ( ,vieques1 all[+ ! pati5ts to be  
ref]r$ = t]ti>y & quat]n>y heal? c>e    
facilities :5 necess>y1 & provid+ !     
transportation & m$ical co/s :5 travel+ 
(f ! isl& ( ,vieques1 until su* "t z    
m$ical te/+ e/abli%es t ! disease levels
 are r$uc$ to ! av]age 9 ! ,unit$       
,/ates4  7,c7 ,adm9i/rative exp]tise ,! 
,special ,ma/] %all ensure t !          
,adm9i/rator ( ,,fema provides all      
adm9i/rative & te*nical exp]tise &      
ov]sight 9 ! bidd+ & con/ruction ( !    
facility b ! design & abilities ( !     
hospital %all be det]m9$ by ! ,special  
,ma/] consid]+ ! m$ical & rese>* ne$s ( 
! resid5ts ( ! isl& ( ,vieques4 ,all    
co/s %all be "p ( ! municipality's      

comp5sation4  7,d7 ,int]im s]vices ,be=e
 ! m$ical facility on ! isl& ( ,vieques 
is op]ational1 ! ,special ,ma/] %all    
provide-- 7i7 urg5t heal? c>e air       
transport to hospitals on ! ma9l& (     
,pu]to ,rico f ! isl& ( ,vieques2  7ii7 
m$ical coord9ation p]sonnel & case      
manag]s2  7iii7 telem$ic9e communication
 abilities2 &  7iv7 any o!r s]vices t   
are necess>y to alleviate ! heal? crisis
 on ! isl& ( ,vieques4  7,e7 ,scre5+ ,! 
,special ,ma/] %all make available1 at  
no co/ to ! pati5t1 m$ical scre5+ =     
canc]1 cirrhosis1 diabetes1 & heavy     
metal contam9ation on ! isl& ( ,vieques4
  7,f7 ,academic p>tn] ,! ,special ,ma/]
 %all appo9t an academic p>tn]1 )       
appropriate exp]i5ce & an e/abli%$      
relation%ip ) ! ,municipality (         
,vieques1 t %all-- 7i7 lead a rese>* &  
outrea* endeavor on behalf ( !          
,municipality ( ,vieques2  7ii7 select !
 appropriate sci5tific exp]tise &       
adm9i/] def9$ /udies1 conduct+ te/+ &   
evaluation ( ! soils1 seas1 plant &     

animal food s\rces1 & ! heal? (         
resid5ts2 &  7iii7 det]m9e & implem5t ! 
mo/ effici5t & effective way to r$uce ! 
environm5tal tox9s to a level suffici5t 
to return ! soils1 seas1 food s\rces1 & 
heal? circum/ances to a level t r$uces !
 diseases on ! isl& ( ,vieques to !     
av]age 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7,g7         
,comp5sation ,! ,special ,ma/] %all     
comp5sate ! ,municipality ( ,vieques =  
rese>* conduct$ on behalf ( !           
municipality1 be=e ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 by univ]sities1 colleges1    
sci5ti/s1 & doctors :o h te/$ & evaluat$
 ! preval5ce ( toxic sub/ances 9 ! soil1
 food s\rces1 & human populations4  7,h7
 ,duties ,! ,special ,ma/] %all provide 
am\nts necess>y = ! academic p>tn] &    
m$ical coord9ator to c>ry out ! duties  
describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,d74
  7,i7 ,procurem5t ,! ,special ,ma/]    
%all provide am\nts necess>y to         
comp5sate ! ,municipality ( ,vieques =--
 7i7 contractual procurem5t obligations 
& additional exp5ses incurr$ by !       

municipality z a result ( ! enactm5t (  
?is section & settlem5t ( its claim2 &  
7ii7 any o!r damages & co/s to be       
incurr$ by ! municipality1 if ! ,special
 ,ma/] det]m9es t x is necess>y to c>ry 
out ! purpose ( ?is section4  7,j7      
,consult+ firms ,! ,special ,ma/] %all  
provide am\nts necess>y = ! ,special    
,ma/] to contract ) consult+ firms =    
te*nical advice on any aspect ( !       
,special ,ma/]'s duties4  7,k7 ,p[]     
s\rce ,! ,special ,ma/] %all det]m9e !  
be/ s\rce ( produc+ indep5d5t p[] on !  
isl& ( ,vieques t is hurricane resili5t 
& c effectively su/a9 ! ne$s ( ! isl& & 
%all au?orize su* con/ruction z an aw>d 
to ! ,municipality ( ,vieques4  7#b7    
,s\rce ,am\nts aw>d$ "u ?is ,act %all be
 made f am\nts appropriat$ "u section   
#acjd ( title #ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 
commonly kn[n z ! ,judgm5t ,fund1 z if  
claims 7 adjudicat$ by a ,unit$ ,/ates  
,di/rict ,c\rt "u section #acdf7;b7 (   
title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#c7   
,det]m9ation & paym5t ( claims  7,a7    

,e/abli%m5t ( fil+ proc$ures ,!         
,attorney ,g5]al %all e/abli% proc$ures 
:]eby individuals & ! municipality may  
submit claims = paym5ts "u ?is section  
to ! ,special ,ma/]4  7,b7 ,det]m9ation 
( claims ,! ,special ,ma/] %all1 9      
accordance ) ?is subsection1 det]m9e    
:e!r ea* claim meets ! requirem5ts ( ?is
 section4 ,claims fil$ by resid5ts ( !  
isl& ( ,vieques t h be5 dispos$ ( by a  
c\rt "u *apt] #aga ( title #bh1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code1 %all be treat$ z if su*   
claims are curr5tly fil$4  7e7 ,action  
on claims ,! ,special ,ma/] %all make a 
det]m9ation on any claim fil$ "u !      
proc$ures e/abli%$ "u ?is section n lat]
 ?an #aej days aft] ! date on :i* !     
claim is fil$4  7f7 ,paym5t 9 full      
settlem5t ( claims by individuals & !   
,municipality ( ,vieques aga9/ ! ,unit$ 
,/ates ,! acceptance by an individual or
 ! ,municipality ( ,vieques ( a paym5t (
 an aw>d "u ?is section %all-- 7#a7 be  
f9al & conclusive2  7#b7 be deem$ to be 
9 full satisfaction ( all claims "u     

*apt] #aga ( title #bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code2 &  7#c7 con/itute a complete     
release by ! individual or municipality 
( su* claim aga9/ ! ,unit$ ,/ates &     
aga9/ any employee ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
act+ 9 ! scope ( employm5t :o is involv$
 9 ! matt] giv+ rise to ! claim4  7g7   
,c]tification ( treatm5t ( paym5ts "u   
o!r laws ,am\nts paid to an individual  
"u ?is section-- 7#a7 %all be treat$ =  
purposes ( ! laws ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates z   
damages = human suff]+2 &  7#b7 may n be
 includ$ z income or res\rces = purposes
 ( det]m9+ eligibility to receive       
b5efits describ$ 9 section              
#chjc7;c77#b77;,c7 ( title #ca1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code1 or ! am\nt ( su* b5efits4