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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
A131, R136, H4439
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Clemmons, Bryant, Hosey, R. Williams, Blackwell, Clary and Rivers
Document Path: l:\council\bills\cc\15580zw19.docx
Introduced in the House on April 9, 2019
Introduced in the Senate on April 17, 2019
Passed by the General Assembly on March 10, 2020
Governor's Action: April 10, 2020, Signed
Summary: Atomic Veterans Day
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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4/9/2019 House Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar without
reference (House Journal-page 170)
4/10/2019 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Rivers
4/10/2019 House Read second time (House Journal-page 46)
4/10/2019 House Roll call Yeas-103 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 46)
4/11/2019 House Read third time and sent to Senate
4/17/2019 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 9)
4/17/2019 Senate Referred to Committee on Family and Veterans' Services
(Senate Journal-page 9)
2/12/2020 Senate Committee report: Favorable Family and Veterans'
Services (Senate Journal-page 9)
3/4/2020 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 93)
3/4/2020 Senate Roll call Ayes-46 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 93)
3/10/2020 Senate Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 28)
4/8/2020 Ratified R 136
4/10/2020 Signed By Governor
4/13/2020 Effective date 04/10/20
4/13/2020 Act No. 131
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
(A131, R136, H4439)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 53-3-250 SO AS TO DESIGNATE THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF JULY OF EACH YEAR AS "ATOMIC VETERANS DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, throughout the history of this great State and nation, brave South Carolinians, answering the call of duty and service, have defended our freedoms as members of the United States Armed Forces; and
Whereas, more than two hundred thousand American service members, including South Carolinians, participated in aboveground nuclear tests between 1945 and 1962, served with the United States military occupation forces in or around Hiroshima and Nagasaki before 1946, or were held as prisoners of war in or near Hiroshima or Nagasaki; and
Whereas, with the aid of American service members, the United States conducted the Trinity nuclear test, the world's first detonation of a nuclear device, in New Mexico on July 16, 1945, as a result of the Manhattan Project; and
Whereas, all these atomic veterans may have been exposed to radiation during their military service and, due to that exposure, may have developed cancer or other medical conditions; and
Whereas, many atomic veterans were prevented by secrecy laws or oaths from seeking medical care or disability compensation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for conditions they may have developed as a result of radiation exposure; and
Whereas, in 1996, the United States Congress repealed the Nuclear Radiation and Secrecy Agreements Act, thus freeing atomic veterans to describe their military involvement in nuclear testing in order to file for VA benefits; and
Whereas, atomic veterans may be eligible for free medical care from the VA and compensation in the form of a partial or full service-connected disability allowance, including potential payments to a surviving spouse or children; and
Whereas, the National Association of Atomic Veterans was formed in 1979 to help atomic veterans obtain medical care and assistance; and
Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper that atomic veterans be recognized for their service and sacrifice. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Atomic Veterans Day
SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 53 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 53-3-250. The sixteenth day of July of each year is designated as 'Atomic Veterans Day' in South Carolina".
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 8th day of April, 2020.
Approved the 10th day of April, 2020.
This web page was last updated on August 31, 2020 at 2:56 PM