Senator Hawley continues fight for Missourians impacted by government nuclear waste

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) posted on X 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”

Hawley went on to not 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 is just the latest in an ongoing battle between the Senator and the federal government as Hawley has been consistently advocating 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—which was 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.