Minnick, Simpson, Matheson request hearing for downwinders

Walt Minnick - Right for Idaho

March 10, 2009

Washington, D.C. – In a letter sent to the House Judiciary Committee, Congressmen Mike Simpson (R-ID), Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Walt Minnick (D-ID) requested an oversight hearing on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), its amendments of July 2000, and the possibility of expanding the legislation to cover individuals exposed to radioactive fallout that are not currently covered. The letter was addressed to Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX).

The United States carried out more than 1000 nuclear weapons tests for more than two decades.  The radioactive debris from these tests entered our nation’s atmosphere and was later deposited, in the form of radioactive fallout, all across our nation as can be seen in the accompanying Iodine-131 map produced by the National Cancer Institute.

In their letter, Congressmen Simpson, Matheson and Minnick addressed the relationship of exposure, poor health and compensation, “For decades, individuals living within the fallout areas have lived with adverse health effects caused by radiation exposure. Today, several claimant categories exist which allow individuals meeting certain criteria to apply for compensation ranging from $50,000 to $75,000 per individual, depending on their category.”

The letter also stressed the importance of treating fallout victims fairly, “Eligibility for compensation, however, is limited to certain counties in just a few states.  These geographical boundaries are, quite frankly, arbitrary boundaries that do not account for the fact that radioactive fallout does not abide by lines on map.  Some of the counties experiencing the largest concentration of fallout in the entire nation are not included in the current RECA program – including areas in our home states of Idaho and Utah.”

In 2000, Congress enhanced the RECA program by adding additional categories of compensable illnesses, but has not received serious review by the Congress in the past seven years. For this reason, Simpson, Matheson and Minnick believe now is an appropriate time for the Judiciary Committee to hold an oversight hearing on this important federal law.