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Lawmaker urges action on 'downwinders' compensation during floor remarks
Summary
During points of personal privilege, a representative highlighted health effects from Cold War nuclear testing, urged passage of federal compensation expansion, and encouraged colleagues to push their congressmembers to act.
A state representative used a point of personal privilege to mark "Downwinders Day" and pressed colleagues to support federal action expanding compensation for victims of atomic testing.
The representative described historical open-air testing by the U.S. government over Nevada after World War II and cited health impacts in Missouri, saying that radioactive fallout and processing related to the Manhattan Project affected local communities, including properties around Lambert Field in St. Louis. The speaker said some residents continue to suffer illnesses they attribute to past exposures.
The lawmaker urged fellow members to contact their U.S. representatives if a Senate bill expanding the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) comes out of the Senate. "Senator Hawley has proposed this legislation for the third year running," the representative said, and he asked colleagues to lobby the U.S. House Speaker to put the measure on the calendar and to support it when it arrives.
He said his colleague in the House will carry a related bill in the state intergovernmental affairs committee that evening and encouraged members to support advancing that bill out of committee and across the floor to help affected Missourians.
The remarks were made during points of personal privilege; no formal state action or vote on compensation legislation occurred during the floor session.
