In a move that could significantly impact communities exposed to radiation, the U.S. Senate is set to vote on a major budget proposal next week. Concealed within this proposed legislation is a crucial measure aimed at renewing compensation for individuals affected by radiation exposure from uranium mining and nuclear testing.
The legislation, if passed, would extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to sunset by the end of 2028. This expansion would include more uranium miners and individuals exposed at the Trinity Test site in New Mexico—the location of the first atomic bomb detonation. Previously, RECA had only compensated uranium miners up until 1972, but the new proposal would extend coverage to workers through 1990.
The expiration of RECA last June prompted lobbying efforts from the Navajo Nation to reinstate the act. The Navajo, along with at least 5,300 other claimants from 24 tribes known as “downwinders,” have benefited from the compensation program. To date, the U.S. Department of Justice has distributed over $2.6 billion to approximately 41,000 recipients nationwide.
Among those affected is Maggie Billiman, a Navajo woman suffering from various health issues, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver, and kidney disease. She attributes these conditions to radiation exposure on her reservation in Sawmill, Arizona. Billiman, along with her family members, hopes for the return of RECA but remains concerned about potential cuts to health services being considered by Republican lawmakers.
“I’m in just so much pain all the time,” said Billiman. “This ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ is just something else. You get help from the RECA compensation, right, and then take Medicaid and Medicare? It just doesn’t make any sense.”
For additional information on why the Navajo Nation is advocating for the reauthorization of RECA, visit this link.
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