Cape News

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) issued a statement following Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) announcement that the House would consider a Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) bill that does not provide compensation to thousands of victims in Missouri, New Mexico, and the Navajo Nation.

In March, Speaker Johnson had committed to working with interested parties on a reauthorization measure after the House failed to address reauthorization legislation before its expiration.

"Mike Johnson’s office tell us he will ask the House to pass a dirty RECA bill that gives NOTHING to Missouri, New Mexico, the Navajo Nation, our atomic vets or anyone else poisoned by their own government. Total dereliction. No member from Missouri can possibly vote for this," stated Hawley via Twitter on May 28, 2024.

He further emphasized his position: "Let me be clear: no RECA bill that excludes Missouri will pass the Senate by consent. I will demand every procedural vote. And every vote will be a reminder the House would rather fund foreign wars than compensate Americans poisoned by their government," tweeted Hawley on May 29, 2024.

Last week, Senator Hawley objected to a RECA bill proposed by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on the Senate floor and pledged to block any attempt at passing RECA reauthorization without including compensation for Missourians. Hawley's legislation aimed at reauthorizing and expanding RECA to include Missouri and other states has passed the Senate twice with significant bipartisan support.

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