Staff Reports
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, a U.S. federal statute that provides partial financial restitution to individuals who developed serious illnesses (such as specific cancers) due to radiation exposure from the U.S. nuclear weapons program, was expanded in July. Now, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., a large supporter of the expansion, is celebrating the win.
RECA, which was originally enacted in 1990, is designed to provide compensation to individuals who became ill due to radiation exposure from the federal government’s nuclear weapons production and testing. Many Navajo miners and mill workers helped source the uranium to fuel this program. The program expired in June 2024 until the recent bill was passed. The latest RECA bill includes the following provisions:
Expands eligibility for miners through Dec. 31, 1990.
Expands eligibility to core drillers and remediation workers for the first time.
Increases compensation from $50,000 to $100,000.
Covers additional kidney diseases for miners.
Allows for combined work histories for miners who worked at multiple sites.
“In New Mexico and across the country, thousands of Americans sacrificed in service to our national security and deserve justice,” Luján said in a January press release. “That’s why I’ve pushed the Department of Justice to provide clear guidance for New Mexicans to cut through the red tape and easily apply for and receive compensation. I’ll continue fighting to ensure RECA delivers for our families.”
Luján visited the University of New Mexico-Gallup campus Aug. 19 to celebrate the extension and explain the restitution people can apply for.
