West STL News

Congresswoman Ann Wagner and her Missouri colleagues have called on House and Senate Leadership and the Appropriations Committees to include the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act in the upcoming fiscal year 2024 appropriations package. The Members emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "We write with the utmost urgency regarding the impending sunset of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)."

In a letter addressed to various key figures including Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader McConnell, the lawmakers highlighted the importance of renewing and reforming the RECA program. They stressed the ongoing harm caused by the federal government's atomic research and the need to extend benefits to those affected. The letter stated, "In Missouri, nuclear waste from these projects that was discarded in the 1960s has resulted in radioactive contamination spreading throughout the greater St. Louis area."

The Members underlined the significance of attaching S. 3853, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act, to the FY2024 appropriations package, especially with RECA's authorization set to sunset on June 7, 2024. They expressed, "With RECA’s authorization expiring in less than three months, time is of the essence. Therefore, we emphatically request that S. 3853 be attached to the upcoming FY2024 appropriations package."

The legislation, which recently passed the Senate with bipartisan support, aims to not only reauthorize RECA but also expand benefits to individuals in affected areas. This includes compensation for medical expenses related to specified diseases and extending benefits to the beneficiaries of deceased individuals.

The lawmakers emphasized the need for prompt action to ensure that those impacted by the government's atomic research receive the necessary support and restitution.