I'd like to add something like: && ($lines[$y]=~/@reqs/)

Then you can use a simple grep like so

if (($lines[$y]=~/^\*R_/) && ($lines[$y]!~/BADSTRING/)
     && grep $lines[$y] =~ $_, @reqs)
[download]

This way if $lines[$y] matches any of the strings in @reqs that particular condition will return true. See. grep for more info.
HTH

_________
broquaint