Kelly, Hawley, Luján, Schmitt Reintroduce RECA Authorization to Give Nuclear Radiation Victims Compensation
Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act to compensate Americans exposed to radiation by government weapons programs. While the Senate passed this legislation in March 2024 prior to the program’s expiration, the House of Representatives failed to pass it before its expiration deadline.
“For decades, Arizonans living near uranium mining sites and nuclear testing zones have been exposed to dangerous levels of radiation, causing people to suffer from serious health conditions,” said Kelly. “We owe it to them, and to all those impacted across the country, to right this wrong and get them the support they deserve.”
“The time to reauthorize RECA is now. The Senate has done this twice before and must do it again. For far too long, Missourians and others across America have suffered without compensation from their government. It is vital that we unite to pass this legislation now, and that the President sign it into law,” said Hawley.
“In New Mexico and across the country, thousands sacrificed to contribute to our national security. Today, individuals affected by nuclear weapons testing, downwind radiation exposure, and uranium mining are still waiting to receive the justice they are owed,” said Luján. “It is unacceptable that so many who have gotten sick from radiation exposure have been denied compensation by Congress. Despite having passed RECA legislation twice through the Senate with broad bipartisan support, and securing the support of the previous administration, I was disheartened that Speaker Johnson refused a vote on RECA to help victims. This Congress, I am proud to partner with Senator Kelly and Senator Hawley again to extend and expand RECA. RECA is a bipartisan priority and I am hopeful that we will once again get it through the Senate and hope the Speaker commits to getting victims the compensation they are owed.”
