An expanded version of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act included in a major congressional spending bill could increase payments and coverage for victims of uranium mining and nuclear testing on tribal lands in the Southwest, according to Native News Online.
The revised act, sponsored by Sen. Josh Hawley, raises compensation amounts, covers additional illnesses linked to radiation poisoning and extends the program through 2028. The changes offer hope to survivors in the Navajo Nation, where uranium mining from 1944 to 1986 exposed communities to radiation associated with cancer and other serious illnesses. Diné citizen Maggie Billman was quoted as saying, “We’re still losing family, relatives, neighbors all across the Navajo Nation from people being exposed.” Billman said improved health care access, not just compensation, is needed for impacted communities.
