In a significant legislative move, Congress is on the verge of reinstating a lapsed federal initiative aimed at compensating uranium miners and residents affected by nuclear test fallout. This comes after a hiatus of over a year since the program’s expiration.
The Senate has included the revival of this program, known as the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), within its extensive tax-and-spending legislation, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This legislation passed through the Senate with a tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance. However, the House has yet to include RECA in its version of the bill.
RECA was originally enacted in 1990 to provide financial restitution to individuals who suffered from cancer and other related illnesses due to exposure to nuclear weapons fallout and uranium industry activities. To date, it has awarded over $2.6 billion to more than 41,000 claimants.
The possibility of reviving and expanding RECA is on the horizon as the House deliberates over the Senate’s amendments. Should these changes be accepted, RECA’s coverage would broaden to include downwinders from Mohave County, Arizona, and the entire states of Utah and New Mexico.
Previous attempts to extend RECA were stalled in the House, despite the support it garnered, due to fiscal concerns raised by some members. Speaker Mike Johnson had not brought the extension to a vote, citing cost worries.
Activists, particularly from the Navajo Nation, have been vocal in their efforts to see RECA reinstated, highlighting the considerable uranium extraction that occurred on Navajo lands between 1944 and 1986. This period saw up to 5,000 tribal members working in mines, with over 500 abandoned sites remaining.
Linda Evers from Grants, New Mexico, expressed her frustration with the government’s inaction, saying, “It just baffles me that our country is so fast to throw us under the bus.” Evers, who worked at a uranium mine from a young age, has dealt with severe health issues as a result of her exposure.
The Congressional Budget Office projected in 2023 that renewing RECA for a decade and widening its scope to include sites in Missouri would cost approximately $147 billion.
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has been at the forefront, advocating for the inclusion of additional sites such as the Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, which played a crucial role in the Manhattan Project. The expansion would also cover areas in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alaska.
Despite bipartisan support for RECA, some Democrats, including Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, have expressed concerns over the broader GOP bill. Gallego’s office criticized the bill for failing to meet the needs of all affected Arizonans.
If reauthorized, the program would extend the deadline for claims to December 31, 2028, and increase compensation caps to $100,000 for eligible individuals. However, those who have previously received compensation would not be eligible for additional payments.
The proposed amendments aim to cover more victims, including those working in uranium mining from 1971 to 1990, core drillers, and mediation workers involved in site restoration.
Evers continues to advocate for coverage for individuals exposed after 1971, recounting the severe health impacts she and her peers have faced. “Our guys are dying like crazy,” she remarked, indicating the dire situation faced by many former workers and their families.
Navajo member Maggie Billiman, affected by nuclear testing fallout, is among those who have yet to receive compensation. Having lobbied for legislative action, she remains hopeful for a resolution that acknowledges the severity of the impact on affected communities.
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