United States Senator Ben Ray Lujan champions widened Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) scope
As dawn broke in July, Project Manhattan initiated its first nuclear weapons test approximately 25 miles distant on the Trinity Proving Ground. These tests inflicted damages within seconds that persisted for generations. Herrera's family, including him, in Herrera, New Mexico, would be exposed to the risk of cancer and other illnesses due to radioactive fallout for decades to come.
Between 1945 and 1992, the United States conducted over 200 ground-based nuclear weapons tests, releasing hazardous radioactive material into the air and contaminating vast areas of the country, particularly New Mexico. Residents nearby, known as "Downwinders," continue to experience health effects from these testing sites. Furthermore, laborers and their families involved in uranium mining, milling, and transportation in the U.S. suffer from the long-term consequences of their work's service to the nation.
In 1990, in an effort to compensate those harmed in the name of national defense, Congress passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) on a bipartisan basis. RECA offers one-time payments to individuals suffering from illnesses, including cancer, as a result of nuclear testing or uranium exposure. Since its inception, RECA has provided over $2.5 billion to more than 39,000 claimants.
Admittedly, these initiatives are far from sufficient. However, RECA's current scope does not go far enough.
Original RECA legislation did not recognize that radioactive fallout was not confined by state borders. As a result, the act continues to exclude New Mexican Downwinders. This is incorrect. Initial RECA eligibility was limited to those living near the Nevada Test Site during the atomic weapons tests. Moreover, RECA neglects Uranium miners subjected to radiation after 1971.
In collaboration with Republican Senator Mike Crapo from Idaho, I've introduced legislation that would widen RECA's eligibility to include all federal states, such as New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and the previous Idaho and Montana inhabitants, as well as those who worked in Uranium mines and facilities after 1971. This legislation would double the compensation individuals receive and extend the program's duration by another 19 years.
Although an extensive and long-term expansion is needed, I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to secure the program's two-year extension in the Senate. This week, the House approved this measure and sent it to President Biden's desk.
While the Congress deliberates, the prevalent sorrow and loss among Downwinders and their families continues.
Consider the case of Beata Tsosie, a Tewa woman from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. Her family and community remain afflicted by the lasting damage of radiation exposure passed down through generations. Tsosie knew that her children would ultimately inherit the contamination from Atom bomb production. RECA, in its current form, excludes Tsosie and her family.
Or think of Livia Cordova, a young member of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Alliance Executive Committee. Cordova's family has suffered an abnormally high number of cancer-related deaths, as cancer is prevalent within her family. In 2020, on the 75th anniversary of the Trinity test, Cordova testified, speaking of her love for her family and the pain of losing them to cancer. Cordova's family, too, remains excluded by RECA.
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Enacted legislation provided by Senator Crapo and I will help these families. Although the federal government cannot fully cleanse the community of Cuosi or alleviate the suffering of Cordova or Henry Herrera, it can take steps toward reparations. In my opinion, extending and expanding RECA represents a long-overdue act of justice.
I will continue to advocate for this legislation and seek bipartisan support for its passage - not just to help the countless families in New Mexico struggling with loss and illness, but also to reinforce the United States government's commitment to justice and redressing wrongs.
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The current RECA, while better than nothing, falls short in recognizing the comprehensive impact of radioactive contamination. To aid in providing more comprehensive compensation for individuals affected by both nuclear testing and Uranium mining, as well as those not included due to geographical or temporal limitations, several actions can be taken:
- Extend the scope of RECA to include individuals affected by nuclear tests beyond 1992 as well as those exposed to radiation from uranium mining after 1971.
- Increase compensation amounts for eligible claimants while extending the claim submission period.
- Expand the geographical boundaries of RECA to include affected states, such as New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho.
- Fund ongoing medical cost studies for downwinders, allowing for a better understanding of long-term health impacts.
- Address particular health effects of radiation exposure, such as cancers and other radiation-related illnesses.
- Secure bipartisan support for legislation expansion.
- Engage with stakeholders, including the Navajo Uranium Radiation Victims Committee.
By implementing these measures, RECA can be widened to provide more comprehensive compensation to individuals impacted by nuclear testing and uranium mining, addressing geographical and temporal limitations that previously excluded many from receiving compensation.