Compensation for radiation victims has been paused long enough
UPHE is proud to be one of many organizations pushing Congress to do right by the government’s victims of nuclear weapons testing. We are urging them to act NOW to reauthorize and expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).
RECA provided financial assistance to individuals—known as downwinders—who were sickened by exposure to nuclear weapons testing during the mid-20th century.
Originally passed in 1990, RECA only covered a limited number of counties in Utah and other western states, despite evidence showing that much of the region was exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. The program expired in June 2022 after Congress failed to enact reforms. Since then, communities have seen rising cases of cancer and heartbreaking losses while waiting for overdue action.
Between 1951 and 1992, a total of 928 nuclear tests were conducted at the Nevada Testing Site, 828 of which were underground. The National Institute of Health reports that “although the highest exposures were found in the extreme southwest part of Utah, as expected, the residents of the populous northern valleys around Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden received a higher mean dose and a significantly greater population dose (person-rads) than did the residents of most counties closer to the test site.”
Senate Bill 3853, which passed the Senate in March with strong bipartisan support, aims to revitalize RECA by increasing compensation amounts, expanding eligible areas to include all of Utah and several other states, and covering additional uranium workers. However, Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has not put the bill up for a vote.
RECA has paid out only $2.6 billion among 40,000 radiation victims; a paltry sum and a fraction of the actual number of victims. Meanwhile, the federal government plans to spend $756 billion on more nuclear weapons development between now and 2032.
Please join us in urging Representatives Owens, Curtis, Maloy, and Moore, to put public health over politics and push for the passage of S.B.3853 immediately.
News Coverage:
Utah News Dispatch
Idaho Capital Sun
Dr. Moench was an expert voice and someone with personal ties to the issue of nuclear testing and public health in the Oscar-eligible feature documentary film “Downwind” (2023). Stream “Downwind” on several platforms, including Peacock, Amazon, Prime and Apple TV. More information at www.backlotdocs.com.