Congress Must Finish the Job: Expand RECA for Every Radiation Survivor
For decades, downwinders, uranium workers, veterans, and communities near nuclear weapons production sites have lived with the health impacts of radiation exposure. Congress has made meaningful progress—but thousands of people are still left out.
Tina Cordova and Laura Greenwood of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium
RECA is a bipartisan program that provides partial restitution for the devastating health impacts of radiation exposure from U.S. nuclear weapons testing and production. Since 1990, bipartisan leaders have recognized that the U.S. government bears responsibility for the people whose lives and health were sacrificed for our national security.
Due to unwavering advocacy from impacted communities, RECA was expanded in July 2025. But the job is only half-done.
The program is still highly flawed, and many exposed communities are still not eligible for coverage.
Congress must work together to continue strengthening RECA to cover all impacted groups.
What’s Happening Now
Unless we take action, RECA will expire at the end of 2027. Thousands across the country have never been eligible.
Congress is considering legislation to extend and expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act so more people harmed by U.S. nuclear weapons activities can receive recognition, support, and health care.
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Linda Evers
“My daughter was born with defects that could not be repaired with a simple surgery. She had to have 5 surgeries before she was 4 years old to build the hips she was born without. The professional medical people that were responsible for her surgeries and recovery convinced me that over exposure to radiation was the cause of her birth defect and I quit working in uranium that day.”
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Mary Dickson
“We were patriotic Americans who believed our government when it assured us, “there is no danger.” Our government not only lied to us for decades, but considered us expendable. We have paid and continue to pay an enormous price. A government that knowingly harmed its own citizens has a moral responsibility to take care of those harmed.”
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Lincoln Grahlfs
“When she was dying, I promised my daughter I would never give up advocating for the abolition of nuclear weapons. At 98, I admit I’ve slowed down a bit, but I hold out hope our elected officials can come together to do the right thing. By extending and expanding RECA, our government can take an important step towards rectifying the harms caused by U.S. nuclear weapons.”