U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement after his legislation to reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was stripped from the FY '24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The proposal would have compensated victims who have been poisoned by their government through nuclear waste, including those in the greater St. Louis area.
Without Congressional action, the entire RECA program will expire in the coming months and leave victims without support. The provision was removed despite passing the Senate with strong bipartisan support and receiving an endorsement from President Biden.
I am told RECA renewal is NOT in the final defense bill. The backroom dealmakers took it out - even after the big bipartisan vote in the Senate. This is a major betrayal of thousands and thousands of Missourians who have been lied to and ignored for years
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 6, 2023
It is also a betrayal of the tens of thousands of Americans made sick by their government’s nuclear waste who have relied on this program for life-saving help. They are now left to fend for themselves as the program expires
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 6, 2023
As I promised, I will vote against this bill that betrays the commitment this nation made to nuclear test victims - and do everything in my power to stop it
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 6, 2023
I will not stand idly by while defense contractors make money hand over fist - and the people of Missouri poisoned by their own government get nothing
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 6, 2023