Indigenous Week of Action in DC to support RECA September 23, 2024

Radiation survivors from the Navajo Nation, Laguna Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo and Hopi tribe are in Washington, DC to urge Congress to re-initiate and expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). From September 24 to 26, over 50 indigenous survivors will participate in a press conference, Congressional office visits, a march, and prayers. Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) successfully passed RECA expansion in the Senate (S. 3853) by a wide, bipartisan margin. However, since Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) refused to schedule a vote in the House, the previous iteration of RECA expired in June. PSR is a part of the RECA Working Group, which continues to demand that the House pass S. 3853. The Working Group advocates bringing S. 3853 to the House floor for a vote in the lame-duck session, or else attaching an expanded RECA program to a Continuing Resolution.

The press event is expected to include Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Speaker of the Navajo Nation Crystalyne Curley, Senator Josh Hawley, Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) and other Congress members. The RECA program provides health screenings and financial assistance to those harmed by exposure to radiation by the U.S. nuclear weapons program.

Most of the radiation survivors traveled to DC together on a bus from Albuquerque, NM. They (or their relatives) were exposed to radiation through uranium mining operations on tribal lands, fallout from nuclear testing, and radioactive waste. Advocacy event attendees planned to deliver symbolic “people’s medical bills” to Speaker Johnson.

You can find all the details, including locations, of all of the events at this Eventbrite page.

“This is not a partisan issue and we should never view it that way– and to actually tell us that the reason for not passing the bill is that it’s going to cost too much–when we have spent trillions of dollars on our nuclear arsenal–is obscene,” said Tina Cordova, Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium and PSR Health Hero award winner. For more information on the impact of nuclear testing and mining on Native American communities across the United States, see PSR’s “Silent Contamination” timeline.

Take Action: Tell your U.S. Representative to vote in favor of justice for radiation victims

Here is some coverage of the event: 

New Mexico radiation victims travel to D.C. for protests
Alyssa Munoz, KOAT – September 23

Trinity Test atomic victims heading to DC to press for compensation
Russell Contreras, Axios, Sept 19

Hawley optimistic at radiation compensation deal prospects
Rachel Frazin, The Hill, Sept 19

Tribes will travel to Washington to lobby lawmakers to revive Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
Yvette Fernantez, KSUT Nevada Public Radio, Sept 19

Indigenous radiation victims demand Congress end delay, reauthorize RECA
Navajo Hopi Observer, Sept 16