28-01-2025
Luján, Heinrich part of group reintroducing Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich have joined other senators on both sides of the aisle in reintroducing the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act in an effort to revive and expand a program that compensates people who were sickened through the federal government's nuclear weapons testing and production.
A bipartisan attempt last year to renew the previous Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act — which applied only to parts of Arizona, Nevada and Utah — also would have extended the benefits to residents of New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Guam. The measure passed the U.S. Senate by a wide margin last year but was never voted on in the House; House Republican leaders cited concerns about the cost of the expansion.
The lack of action in the House allowed RECA to expire in June.
Advocates for New Mexico downwinders, exposed to radiation from the first-ever atomic bomb detonation in July 1945 during the Trinity Test, and former uranium miners slammed House leaders last year for not holding a vote to extend the law.
'It is unacceptable that so many who have gotten sick from radiation exposure have been denied compensation by Congress," Luján said in a statement.
"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 [House] Speaker [Mike] Johnson refused a vote on RECA to help victims," Luján added.
Along with Heinrich and Luján, both New Mexico Democrats, the bill was reintroduced by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, and Mark Kelly, D-Arizona.
'The time to reauthorize RECA is now," Hawley said in a statement. "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."
