We’re asking Utah’s congressional delegation to push action on radiation law
In our latest push for environmental justice, UPHE stands with a coalition of organizations calling for the immediate reauthorization and expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). Up until recently, this crucial law provided compensation to those exposed to nuclear radiation from bomb testing in Nevada. Thousands of Utahns were exposed and now have no protections or compensation from the federal government.
The reauthorization of the bill has not made it to the House floor for a vote. Why? Speaker Mike Johnson, influenced by cost concerns and lack of House GOP support, continues to delay. Senators Romney and Lee have compounded this failure by introducing a weakened alternative that offers no expansion of protections, despite the documented health consequences faced by communities exposed to radioactive fallout.
We demand action. Downwinders, including countless Utahns, have suffered for too long due to the government’s negligence. To make matters worse, Project 2025 proposes to continue the nuclear testing that had such detrimental fallout for some many Utahns. This is utterly unacceptable. History has shown us the devastating health effects of these tests, and any attempt to restart them would be a grave mistake.
It’s time for Utah’s congressional delegation to step up, use their influence, and fight for their constituents. The reauthorization of RECA, in its expanded form, is not just necessary—it is a moral obligation. Further nuclear testing should never be on the table. Utahns deserve protection, compensation, and most importantly, peace of mind.
We urge Senators Romney and Lee, along with Representatives Owens, Curtis, Maloy, and Moore, to put public health over politics and push for the passage of S.3853 immediately.