RECA expansion now included in Senate megabill, could aid St. Louis nuclear waste victims
WASHINGTON – A major expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act has been included in the Senate's version of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' according to Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley.
Hawley has long pushed to reauthorize and expand RECA access to compensate St. Louis-area victims of radioactive waste, though efforts had stalled in Senate packages over the last two years.
Now, the proposed RECA expansion is part of the Senate Judiciary Committee's portion of the reconciliation package, also known as the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.'
Over the last few years, national reports have surfaced suggesting that the federal government downplayed and failed to fully investigate the risks of nuclear waste contamination that stemmed from the Manhattan Project, a World War II-era uranium production effort that occurred in the St. Louis region.
When leftover nuclear waste was later disposed, it found way into Coldwater Creek, a 19-mile tributary of the Missouri River that runs through neighborhoods, schools, and parks.
'The federal government dumped nuclear waste in the backyards of Missourians for decades -and then lied about it,' said Hawley on the proposed RECA expansion via a news release. 'These survivors sacrificed their health for our national security at the advent of the Manhattan Project, and their children and grandchildren have borne the burden of radioactive-linked illness for generations since. Reviving RECA means acknowledging the debts we owe these good Americans and delivering them the justice and overdue compensation they deserve.'
The proposed updates to RECA would significantly broaden eligibility and increase benefits to those affected by radioactive waste across the United States. According to Hawley, the provisions include:
New eligibility: Adds eligibility for RECA compensation for residents of contaminated areas in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alaska who developed cancers or other radiation-linked illnesses.
Expanded downwinder coverage: Fully covers existing RECA-eligible 'downwind' areas and on-site participants, such as military personnel. These areas currently include regions of Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
Uranium workers inclusion: Covers all uranium miners previously eligible under RECA, adds miners who worked between 1971-1990, add core drillers as eligible workers and expands eligible diseases.
Military and on-site participants: Maintains full coverage for military personnel and others exposed during atomic testing.
Increase benefits: Adjusts compensation levels to reflect inflation, providing greater financial support for atmospheric testing survivors.
If approved, the expansion would be a major step toward addressing radioactive contamination in the St. Louis region.
A Senate vote on the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' could come before the end of June, and the measure could return to the House in July.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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