Expand RECA: Congress Must Finish the Job
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act provides partial restitution to people harmed by radiation exposure from U.S. nuclear weapons testing and production. Congress expanded RECA in 2025, but many communities and survivors remain excluded.
Upcoming legislation would strengthen and extend RECA so more people harmed by nuclear weapons radiation can receive the recognition, compensation, health care, and support they deserve.
What the Legislation Would Do
This bipartisan bill is supported by a coalition of grassroots advocates across the country. It will strengthen the existing RECA program by:
Expanding downwind eligibility to cover all of Arizona, Colorado, Guam, Montana, and Nevada.
Covering additional communities exposed to Manhattan Project waste in or near St. Louis, the Hanford Site in Washington, the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Ohio, and the Rocky Flats Plant and Cañon City Mill in Colorado
Extending eligibility to atomic cleanup veterans
Fixing inconsistencies and strengthening benefits for all claimants
Why this matters
For decades, the U.S. government exposed people to radiation through nuclear weapons testing, uranium mining, nuclear weapons production, and cleanup operations.
Many people were never warned of the risks. Many were later diagnosed with cancer and other serious illnesses. Many died before receiving recognition or support.
RECA is one of the clearest ways Congress can acknowledge the government’s responsibility and provide meaningful support to harmed communities.
Congressional Resources
Bill One-Pager
Coming Soon
Comparison: Current RECA vs Proposed Expansion