Vieques Recovery and Redevelopment Act

This bill sets up a compensation and health support program for people on Vieques, Puerto Rico, because the island was used for U.S. military training for decades and many residents now face serious health problems. It offers set cash payments to eligible residents or their heirs who can show it’s more likely than not they developed certain illnesses (like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, cirrhosis, or heavy metal poisoning) linked to that exposure. Payments range from $50,000 to $110,000 depending on how many of these illnesses a person has; families of people who died can also qualify, with amounts tied to age at death or the number of illnesses. Attorney fees are capped at 20%, and awards won’t count as income for certain benefit programs. A Special Master will be appointed to run the process and must decide each claim within 150 days; all claims must be filed within 15 years. Total payouts are capped at $1 billion and come from a federal fund. These steps follow findings that Vieques residents were exposed to harmful residues from years of training, suffered higher rates of disease, and lost already-limited medical services after Hurricane Maria, with ferry disruptions making care even harder to reach. FEMA can’t build a stronger hospital than what existed before, so this bill fills that gap. Past lawsuits were blocked, and Congress is stepping in to provide a remedy.

It also funds a new local medical facility with a cancer center and dialysis unit, covers operations and patient travel off-island when needed, provides urgent air transport and telemedicine until the facility opens, offers free screening for certain diseases, partners with a university to study and reduce toxins, and supports a hurricane‑resilient power source for the island.

• Who is affected: People who lived in Vieques for at least 5 years before the law takes effect (and certain heirs).
• What you can get: $50,000 (one listed illness), $80,000 (two), or $110,000 (three or more); separate options for families of those who died. Awards won’t reduce certain benefits.
• How to qualify: Show residency and medical documentation that it’s more likely than not your listed illness is tied to the military use of the island; file if you already sued or file a new claim within 120 days of the law taking effect.
• Deadlines and limits: Claims must be filed within 15 years; Special Master decides within 150 days; total payments capped at $1 billion.
• Community support: Build and run a trauma‑level facility on Vieques, cover transport to mainland care, provide interim airlifts and telemedicine, free screening, research to clean up toxins, and resilient power.