Cape News

Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley expressed his approval of the House of Representatives' passage of the President's reconciliation legislation, known as the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. The bill includes a significant expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and an additional $1 billion in funding for Missouri Medicaid providers and recipients.

Senator Hawley had initially urged Congress to compensate victims of government-induced nuclear radiation on July 13, 2023. After nearly two years of negotiations and two separate Senate approvals of RECA packages in 2023 and 2024, this expansion is now set to be signed into law by President Trump.

"To all the radiation survivors and nuclear veterans across the country: WE DID IT. Today, we have prevailed. Your country thanks you and honors your sacrifice. #MAHA," stated Josh Hawley on Twitter.

"HUGE WIN for Missouri – after 5 decades, survivors of nuclear radiation will FINALLY be compensated by the government that poisoned them," he added in another tweet.

The RECA provision championed by Senator Hawley aims to provide overdue compensation and healthcare for survivors of radiation-related cancers in areas like St. Louis and St. Charles, linked to exposure from Manhattan Project waste. It also extends compensation to uranium miners and downwinders affected by fallout in Western states. Additionally, the broader reconciliation bill offers relief measures such as no taxes on overtime or tips and an increased child tax credit for families.

Negotiations between Senate GOP Leadership and Senator Hawley resulted in a new $50 billion fund for rural hospitals being included in the legislation. This will ensure approximately $1 billion in new funding for Missouri over five years to support providers and Medicaid recipients while delaying any reductions in Medicaid.