U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández during her floor speech today applauding the signing of a bill to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. Screenshot/LADP

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) applauded the signing of a bill to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

The Congresswoman led the House effort to pass the two-year extension through Congress with bipartisan support last month. The program was scheduled to sunset in July 2022.

Leger Fernández and U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens led a bipartisan letter May 6, 2022, urging House leadership to bring S. 4119, the RECA Extension Act of 2022, to the House Floor for a vote as soon as possible. Today, the legislation was signed into law.

Last year, Rep. Leger Fernández introduced H.R. 5338, the RECA Amendments of 2021. H.R. 5338 would expand eligibility under RECA to include downwinders from New Mexico and other states as well as post-71 uranium miners. The House Judiciary Committee passed the legislation with bipartisan support in December. Rep. Leger Fernández continues to push for enactment of this legislation to ensure just compensation for all affected New Mexicans.

“New Mexico is sadly no stranger to the health perils associated with uranium mining and nuclear testing. Nearly 77 years after the Trinity Test, our communities still fall ill from radiation exposure. With the enactment of the two-year extension, we must renew our commitment to pass my comprehensive legislation to expand eligibility under RECA to cover all impacted New Mexicans. I will keep working to bring justice to our New Mexico communities,” Leger Fernández said, adding that she will continue to push for passage of bipartisan legislation to strengthen the program and compensate individuals exposed to radiation while working in uranium mines or living downwind from atomic weapons tests.

Watch Rep. Leger Fernández floor speech HERE.