Luján Fights to Expand Compensation to Those Exposed to Radiation

Press Release

Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) introduced legislation that expands compensation for those exposed to radiation while working in uranium mines or living downwind from atomic weapons tests. Luján has introduced similar measures in the previous two sessions of Congress.

Among the provisions in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments of 2017 are important changes that would build upon previous RECA legislation by further widening qualifications for compensation for radiation exposure; qualifying post 1971 uranium workers for compensation; and expanding the downwind exposure area to include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Guam, and New Mexico, as well as any county in Arizona, Nevada, or Utah; which have been shown to be impacted by downwind contamination.

"This is a matter of fairness -- and justice. The least our government can do is to meet its responsibility to those Americans who sacrificed so much for our national security,"Luján said. "Current law offers compensation to individuals who contracted cancer and other serious diseases following their exposure to radiation released during above-ground nuclear weapons tests or exposure to radiation while employed in the uranium industry -- but far too many are not covered under existing law.I will continue my efforts to ensure we compensate all those who played a key role in our national security during the Cold War and have suffered as a result of their efforts."

Specifically, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2017 will:

· Amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Trust Fund for an additional 19 years.

· Prescribe additional periods of "required presence" in an affected area during atmospheric nuclear testing for individuals filing leukemia or specified disease claims which allows people impacted

· Increasing the amount of compensation an individual filing a claim may receive to $150,000.

· Expand the definition of "affected area" to include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Guam, and New Mexico, as well as any county in Arizona, Nevada, or Utah; which have been shown to be impacted by downwind contamination.

· Extend, to December 31, 1990, the period during which an individual employed in a uranium mine or uranium mill is eligible to receive compensation for a disease claim due to radiation exposure which makes a core driller eligible to receive compensation upon filing of a disease claim (also known as the Post '71 Provision).

· Make miners, core drillers, and ore transporters who suffer renal cancer or any other chronic renal disease, including nephritis and kidney tubal tissue injury, eligible for compensation due to exposure to radiation while on the job.

· Allow veterans of the Enewetak Atoll cleanup to be eligible for the program.

· Make RECA beneficiaries eligible for medical benefits in the same manner as Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) beneficiaries.

· Require the Attorney General to accept written affidavits meeting specified requirements regarding employment history, physical presence in an affected area, or participation at a nuclear testing site in determining the eligibility of claimants; allowing affected individuals to apply for compensation if they worked for companies who are no longer in business or who's employment records are not available.

· Extend the statute of limitations for the filing of such claims for an additional 19 years.

· Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, to establish a program of grants to institutions of higher education to study the epidemiological impacts of uranium mining and milling among non-occupationally exposed individuals, including family members of uranium miners and millers.

To meet its responsibility to those Americans who sacrificed so much for our national security, Congress passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) on October 5, 1990 and later broadened the scope of the Act's coverage on July 10, 2000. The current law offers compensation to individuals who contracted certain cancers and other serious diseases following their exposure to radiation released during above-ground atmospheric nuclear weapons tests or following their occupational exposure to radiation while employed in the uranium industry. Lujan noted however, that there are many additional individuals who are sick or dying from radiation exposure and are unable to receive the compensation they deserve.

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