San Juan County proclaims celebration of RECA expansion, expresses support for uranium workers

The San Juan County Board of County Commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing the July 4, 2025 reauthorization and expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and expressing support for affected uranium workers, millers, transporters and downwind communities. The proclamation, presented during the board’s meeting, notes the law’s extension through Dec. 31, 2028, the addition of new downwind areas including New Mexico, and raised compensation amounts for eligible claimants.

The resolution states the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was first passed in 1990 to provide partial restitution to people who developed serious illnesses after exposure from atmospheric nuclear testing or employment in the uranium industry. It records that RECA expired in June 2024 and that a bipartisan reauthorization effort led to coverage and filing windows in 2025. The county’s proclamation references a previously adopted local resolution (23-24-61, April 16, 2024) that expressed support for an extension of RECA.

Commissioners debated briefly and then moved to approve the proclamation. A motion to adopt the proclamation was seconded and passed with no recorded opposition.

The board noted local impacts discussed by speakers during the meeting, including references to historical exposures in Shiprock and Gallup and local families affected by illnesses the proclamation intends to recognize. The proclamation commits the board to support ‘‘uranium workers, downwinders, and other individuals and families exposed to radiation’’ and expresses gratitude for the bipartisan effort to secure reauthorization.

The proclamation does not create a county program or allocate funds. It records the county’s formal support and will be provided to local advocacy organizations and to participants who requested copies at the meeting.