Luján, Crapo Lead Colleagues in Letter to Congressional Leadership Urging RECA Extension and Expansion

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) led their Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter urging Congressional Leadership to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program in any upcoming spending package. The letter urges extension before the program sunsets later this year. The RECA program, originally passed in 1990, compensates individuals exposed to radiation from aboveground nuclear weapons tests, as well as those who mined, milled, and transported uranium.

Senators Luján and Crapo introduced bipartisan legislation in September 2021 designed to strengthen RECA and compensate uranium workers and those living downwind from atomic weapons tests who were exposed to radiation. Luján has introduced the legislation in each Congress since taking office in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009.

The lawmakers wrote, “Between 1945 and 1992, the United States conducted 206 above-ground nuclear weapons tests, releasing  harmful radioactive material into the air and blanketing parts of the United States, including New Mexico, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, and  Guam. Communities and individuals living near  these test sites, known as ‘downwinders,’ suffer health effects related to the radiation exposure from the tests.”

“As we continue to work on a bipartisan solution to improve and expand the RECA program, Congress must act to extend RECA before it expires. With many still sick and dying from the impact of radiation exposure, we must act now to ensure affected Americans are eligible to receive the compensation they need,” the lawmakers continued.

Additional signers of the letter include U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).  

The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below: 

Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy:

We write today to urge you to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program in any upcoming spending package. The RECA program, originally passed in 1990, compensates individuals exposed to radiation from aboveground nuclear weapons tests and those that mined, milled, and transported uranium. These individuals, including those who worked in defense of our nation, now face serious health consequences from radiation exposure and poisoning. The RECA program is scheduled to expire in July 2022 and while we are working to improve and expand the program, we must not allow this important program to expire.

Between 1945 and 1992, the United States conducted 206 above-ground nuclear weapons tests, releasing harmful radioactive material into the air and blanketing parts of the United States, including New Mexico, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, and Guam. Communities and individuals living near these test sites, known as “downwinders”, continue to suffer health effects related to the radiation exposure from the tests. At present, the RECA program only allows those who lived in limited geographic areas to receive compensation. Thus, many of those affected are excluded from the current program. Additionally, no uranium worker who began work after 1971 may receive compensation. We strongly support the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments that seeks to expand and improve that program to ensure all impacted downwinders and uranium workers can access this critical program.

As we continue to work on a bipartisan solution to improve and expand the RECA program, Congress must act to extend RECA before it expires. With many still sick and dying from the impact of radiation exposure, we must act now to ensure affected Americans are eligible to receive the compensation they need.

We applaud your commitment to ensuring that those who serve our country receive the support they deserve. That is why we must act to extend RECA.

We appreciate your collaboration on this important issue.

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