Advocates call on Congress to reauthorize radiation compensation law in lame-duck session
A coalition of advocates and stakeholders called on Congress to take action in the lame-duck session to reauthorize the law compensating Americans exposed to nuclear radiation by the federal government.
In the letter, first shared with The Hill, signers asked members to take up the stalled reauthorization of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which passed the Senate by a two-to-one margin in March but never received a floor vote in the House.
RECA, first passed in 1990, provides financial compensation and medical treatment for people exposed to the effects of wartime nuclear testing as well as processing of nuclear material and uranium mining.
The reauthorization bill, sponsored by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), would expand eligibility for that compensation to include, among others, those downwind of the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test and those exposed to contamination by uranium processing in the St. Louis area.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), after initially scheduling a vote on a more limited reauthorization, did not bring the Hawley-Schmitt-Lujan bill to the House floor in the previous session, with his office telling The Hill he had concerns about costs and whether it had the votes in the chamber.
Signers of the letter include the Navajo Nation, Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship, the Arms Control Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Just Moms STL.
“Some have callously said that we should kick some communities out of our legislation for the sake of political expediency. But we are not willing to turn our backs on our dying friends and loved ones in other parts of the country, and Congressmembers who ask us to do so should be ashamed,” the letter states.
“Our coalition has also put forward proposals that support all communities at roughly 5% of the cost of previous proposals. There is no fiscal excuse not to support justice for all of our communities.”
-
What Congress has on its agenda for lame-duck session
Top stories - CBS News - Yesterday -
Senate Democrat sees ‘a chance’ of more Ukraine funding in lame duck session
Politics - The Hill - 15 hours ago -
Live updates: House Republicans take a victory lap as Congress returns to DC
Politics - The Hill - Yesterday -
On lame-duck AI bill, Congress shouldn’t push too far
Politics - The Hill - Yesterday -
White House pushes back on Trump call to halt confirmations in lame duck period
Politics - The Hill - 2 days ago -
Elon Musk worries free speech advocates with calls to prosecute researchers and critics
Politics - NBC News - Yesterday -
Louisiana governor calls a special session to address taxes and the courts
Top stories - ABC News - October 28 -
California Gov. Newsom calls for special legislative session after Trump win
Politics - The Hill - 6 days ago -
How advocates predict Trump's 2024 win could impact gun violence prevention laws
Top stories - ABC News - 6 days ago
More from The Hill
-
Senate Democrat: Gaetz nomination ‘red alert moment for American Democracy’
Politics - The Hill - 14 minutes ago -
People to remember from the unforgettable 2024 election
Politics - The Hill - 23 minutes ago -
How the states can protect public health from the federal fringe takeover
Politics - The Hill - 53 minutes ago -
Biden's escalation paralysis has devastated Ukraine
Politics - The Hill - 1 hour ago -
Morning Report — Trump takes victory lap; Gaetz bombshell
Politics - The Hill - 2 hours ago
Latest in Politics
-
Senate Democrat: Gaetz nomination ‘red alert moment for American Democracy’
Politics - The Hill - 14 minutes ago -
People to remember from the unforgettable 2024 election
Politics - The Hill - 23 minutes ago -
How the states can protect public health from the federal fringe takeover
Politics - The Hill - 53 minutes ago -
Biden's escalation paralysis has devastated Ukraine
Politics - The Hill - 1 hour ago -
Morning Report — Trump takes victory lap; Gaetz bombshell
Politics - The Hill - 2 hours ago