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Local advocates press council to recognize National Day of Remembrance for downwinders; federal reauthorization stalled
Summary
A local advocate briefed council on the National Day of Remembrance for downwinders and the stalled federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act reauthorization (S.3853); Elise Whitman read a letter from Congressman Eli Crane supporting reauthorization and related cleanup programs.
Sherry Hanna, a local advocate for nuclear downwinders, asked the Prescott City Council to recognize Jan. 27 as the National Day of Remembrance for American Downwinders and briefed the council on federal efforts to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).
Hanna showed a short video summarizing the history of above-ground nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site, the geographic reach of fallout, and the uranium-mining impacts affecting parts of Arizona, Utah and Nevada. She described S.3853, a Senate reauthorization (the Radiation Exposure and Compensation Reauthorization Act) that passed the Senate 69-30 in 2024 but did not reach a House vote before the RECA program lapsed in June 2024. Hanna said advocates had urged expansion of covered geography and illnesses and an extension of the claims deadline.
Elise Whitman, district staff assistant for Congressman Eli Crane, read a letter of support from the congressman. The letter endorses reauthorization work in the House and cited HR 6753 and HR 7779 (as referenced by staff) as related measures; Bailey Whitman said the congressman had cosponsored legislation aimed at reauthorizing RECA and at addressing legacy mine cleanup and remediation. Whitman’s reading said the House sponsor hoped to reintroduce companion legislation and hold hearings; the letter also referenced constituent outreach in Washington.
Councilmembers thanked Hanna for advocacy and a local councilmember identified as a “downwinder” described the condition as a lifetime concern for families in parts of Northern Arizona. No formal council action was recorded; councilmembers discussed local recognition and noted continuing federal-level advocacy.
