The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program, which provides benefits to Americans sickened by nuclear radiation, has expired. Despite bipartisan support in the Senate for extending and expanding RECA, the House of Representatives has not taken up the Senate-passed bill. Senator Ben Ray Luján, Representative Susie Lee, and Representative Ruben Gallego are among those urging House leadership, specifically Speaker Johnson and the House GOP, to hold a vote on the legislation. The expiration of RECA leaves many individuals, including 'Downwinders' who were exposed to harmful radiation from past nuclear testing, without the compensation they need. Advocates are calling for immediate action to extend the program and expand eligibility to cover all affected individuals, including those in Nevada and Arizona.
Today, RECA expires, leaving hundreds of radiation-exposed Arizonans without the support and compensation they deserve. I'm joining @RepGregStanton in calling on House leadership to swiftly act to expand RECA and to ensure that the program covers ALL affected Arizonans. https://t.co/7MHeh1Rx1O
The Senate passed legislation to extend and expand RECA twice with bipartisan support. @SpeakerJohnson must hold a vote on the Senate-passed bill to save RECA and provide long-overdue justice to victims. @HouseGOP cannot let this program expire without holding a single vote. https://t.co/oOHQTwnkJM
“Downwinders” are those who were exposed to harmful radiation from past nearby nuclear testing. Even now, they’re still suffering. But the compensation program just expired. @SpeakerJohnson must let us vote to extend the program & expand eligibility for Nevadans who deserve it.
Because @HouseGOP and @SpeakerJohnson failed to take up a Senate-passed extended and expanded RECA — today is the last day to apply for benefits from the current program. I cannot stress this enough — I will not give up on the victims who deserve justice.
The Republican and Democratic senators leading an effort to expand benefits significantly for more Americans sickened by nuclear radiation are taking different political approaches toward their mutual goal as the program expires this month. https://t.co/TfZiHhglhl