Trinity Test Victims Head to D.C. to Demand Compensation for Health Issues
Hispanic and Native American victims of the world’s first atomic test are set to urge House members next week for compensation due to the generations of health problems caused by the Trinity Test and uranium mining.
Why It Matters
A federal law providing financial reparations for individuals living downwind of nuclear testing sites expired on June 7, and residents of New Mexico near the Trinity Test site were notably excluded from its provisions.
The Big Picture
Survivors of the Trinity Test, as well as those affected by uranium mining on the Navajo Nation and Pueblo lands, have faced rare forms of cancer in the decades following the test. Advocates for these communities have been pushing Congress for action for years, highlighting additional victims of radiation exposure in Missouri and Utah. This has led to a bipartisan effort, with Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) advocating for the reintroduction of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to include overlooked victims.
Quick Background
Originally passed in 1990, the federal law awarded reparations to individuals downwind of the Nevada Test Site. Although uranium workers in other states were later included, residents of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation were excluded.
Renewed interest in the Trinity Test, particularly following the release of the Oscar-winning film “Oppenheimer,” has brought attention to the Latino and Mescalero Apache communities affected by the explosion.
Upcoming Advocacy
Dozens of Latino and Native American advocates are expected to gather at the Capitol next week to hold traditional Indigenous ceremonies, calling for action from Congress. They hold House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) responsible for the lack of progress in passing a new RECA to include these forgotten victims, although Johnson has expressed a willingness to work on a resolution.
Tina Cordova, co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium and a cancer survivor, voiced the frustration of advocates: “About 57 GOP House districts would benefit from a new RECA. This is not a partisan issue. We’re not going to give up. After what we’ve lost, we have nothing left to lose.”
Statements from Leaders
Senator Hawley praised the RECA advocates, stating, “They have never stopped fighting for their families and communities, and I’m proud to stand with them.” Luján added that it has been over five months since the Senate passed legislation to strengthen RECA with broad bipartisan support, emphasizing the determination to send a strong message to House Republicans.
Historical Context
On July 16, 1945, the U.S. Army detonated an atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert, affecting residents in nearby communities. Many experienced immediate consequences, such as black rain and radiation poisoning through contaminated milk. Despite the dangers, residents were unaware of the risks associated with the site, often visiting it for picnics and collecting radioactive artifacts like “trinitite.”
Residents only became aware of the Trinity Test after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The aftermath has led to significant health issues for many of the approximately 30,000 residents in the surrounding areas, with some relying on bake sales to fund their cancer treatments.
