House Democrats dig in on the ongoing dispute in Congress over compensation for US radiation victims.

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A prominent Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives has emphasized that a shift in congressional power is crucial for advancing legislation aimed at extending and expanding compensation for those exposed to radiation from uranium mining and nuclear testing. Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, alongside members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation, has urged voters to increase pressure on Republican House leaders to revive the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

In a campaign appearance in New Mexico, Aguilar, a California congressman, criticized the current House leadership for inaction on the bill. He described the failure to advance the legislation as both a governmental and leadership failure. The Senate had passed the bill earlier this year, but it stalled in the House due to concerns about its cost. Despite appeals from GOP supporters in the Senate for a House vote, the act expired in June.

The proposed legislation seeks to address the needs of Native Americans who worked as uranium miners, millers, and transporters, as well as residents living downwind from nuclear testing sites. Advocates argue that political calculations, rather than cost concerns, are behind the House’s reluctance to address the bill.

The push for expanding the compensation program has been particularly vocal in New Mexico. The state was home to the Trinity Test Site, where the first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945 as part of the Manhattan Project. Residents of New Mexico, including those on the Navajo Nation, have been campaigning to raise awareness about the health impacts of nuclear fallout, including cancer and other illnesses linked to radiation exposure from uranium mining.

The renewed interest in the legacy of nuclear testing has been fueled by the recent success of the film “Oppenheimer,” which has brought new attention to the United States’ nuclear history and its consequences.

Freshman Congressman Gabe Vasquez, a Democrat from New Mexico and a member of the Armed Services Committee, criticized the notion that the government cannot afford to compensate those affected by radiation exposure. He pointed out that national defense spending exceeds $860 billion annually and argued that it is inconceivable that the government cannot allocate funds to address the health impacts suffered by affected communities. Vasquez suggested that the compensation measure could be included in a defense spending bill, with funds offset by savings elsewhere.

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was first passed over thirty years ago and has since provided approximately $2.6 billion in compensation. The proposed update to the law seeks to extend coverage to additional regions, including parts of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Guam, Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska, and Kentucky. The expanded coverage would address the needs of those exposed to radioactive waste and fallout, including many who were unaware of the dangers due to inadequate warnings at the time.

In New Mexico, residents were not informed of the radiological risks associated with the Trinity Test, leading to exposure from radioactive ash that fell on their lands. These included families who depended on farming, livestock, and cisterns for their water. The proposed legislation aims to correct this oversight and ensure that those affected receive the compensation they deserve.

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