OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Extending the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program

Floor Speech

Date: June 5, 2024
Location: Washington, DC

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Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of the Radiation Exposure Compensation program, which is set to stop accepting new claims on June 10.

RECA is an essential program for those who are exposed to radiation connected to aboveground nuclear weapons tests conducted here in the United States from 1945 to 1962. Many of those tests took place in Nevada.

While these tests helped the United States keep the peace during the Cold War, they also caused long-term health problems for on-site participants, uranium miners and transporters, individuals, veterans, and all who lived downwind from the Nevada test site. RECA provides compensation to those individuals who have developed various kinds of cancer.

To date, the program has paid out $2.6 billion to over 40,000 individuals, including 2,500 Nevadans, but these residents are in every State and territory. It is imperative that we not let this program expire.

I urge the Speaker to bring forward legislation that extends RECA so that our government can compensate these Cold War warriors who sacrificed so much for our national security.

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