Hawley urges Congress to reauthorize compensation for nuclear radiation victims before expiration

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement calling on Congress to reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) in the FY ’24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to compensate victims of government-caused radiation in the greater St. Louis area.

Hawley said: “Americans poisoned by our government’s nuclear tests & waste are set to lose the lifesaving help they’ve relied on for over 30 years. RECA must be reauthorized in this NDAA before it expires in just a few months. Thousands of radiation victims depend on this program to survive.”

If Congress does not act, the entire existing RECA program that provides support for victims of radiation around the country will expire in a few months. Senator Hawley has pledged to oppose the NDAA if it does not include compensation for Missouri victims.

This past Tuesday, Senator Hawley welcomed Missouri grassroots advocates impacted by federal government-caused nuclear waste to the U.S. Capitol, so Washington leadership could hear their stories.

Senator Hawley has consistently advocated on behalf of the Coldwater Creek community and all Missourians impacted by government-caused nuclear contamination.

On July 27, 2023, in a strong bipartisan vote, Senator Hawley secured passage of an amendment to the FY 2024 NDAA that would provide compensation to victims of government-caused nuclear contamination. The legislation extends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to cover victims of improperly-stored nuclear waste in affected areas in the St. Louis region.

The measure – cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) – also reauthorized and strengthened the RECA program to cover more impacted Americans from nuclear tests along with uranium miners. President Biden has endorsed the legislation.