Cape News

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has made a passionate appeal on the Senate floor, demanding the immediate reauthorization and expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). The funding for RECA, which compensates American victims who have suffered due to federal government's nuclear testing programs, is set to expire on June 7.

Senator Hawley directly addressed Speaker Mike Johnson in his speech, urging him to expedite the process of sending RECA to the House floor before time runs out. "There's only one month remaining before this vital program, this commitment that this nation has made to the working people of this nation, to the veterans of this nation, who have served this country, before this commitment runs out," said Senator Hawley. "We have one month to go—and the House has not acted," he added.

"The bill for this radiation has been paid. It's been paid by the American people... They're the ones who are dying. They're the ones who are having to forgo cancer treatments, treatments for their children... because their government has exposed them to this radiation negligently... It's time the government bore its share," Senator Hawley concluded.

The senator from Missouri has been at the forefront of efforts to secure just compensation for nuclear radiation victims, including residents in greater St. Louis area and across America.

Hawley's legislation seeking reauthorization and expansion of RECA has already received overwhelming bipartisan support in Senate twice. Now it is up to House of Representatives to take it forward by sending it for a vote on the floor.