HM 15
Page 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
A MEMORIAL
RAISING AWARENESS OF THE CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY PEOPLE
EXPOSED TO RADIATION AND ENCOURAGING THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO EXPAND COMPENSATION UNDER
THE FEDERAL RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT.
WHEREAS, from 1945 to 1962, the United States government
conducted an extensive weapons development program testing
hundreds of nuclear weapons; and
WHEREAS, to provide uranium for the atmospheric nuclear
testing being carried out, the United States hired people to
mine and process uranium in many areas, especially in New
Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada and Utah; and
WHEREAS, large uranium deposits were found on or near
the Navajo Nation, and many Navajo people were employed to
work in the mines; and
WHEREAS, thousands of people were exposed to unhealthy
and damagingly high doses of radiation through atmospheric
nuclear weapons testing or through employment in uranium
mining and processing; and
WHEREAS, radiation exposure has been linked to many
serious illnesses, including leukemia and multiple myeloma;
renal failures; breast, bladder, colon, liver, lung,
esophageal, ovarian, renal, prostate and stomach cancers;
gastrointestinal, neurological and blood disorders; and other HM 15
Page 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
conditions leading to debilitation or death; and
WHEREAS, in 1990, the United States congress passed the
federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act; and
WHEREAS, the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
was designed to provide some compensation to people exposed
to radiation through certain atmospheric nuclear weapons
tests and uranium mining and processing operations; and
WHEREAS, the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
designated certain areas of Arizona and Utah as official
downwind areas that were downwind of atmospheric nuclear
weapons testing, for which compensation would be provided;
and
WHEREAS, the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
limited compensation for uranium miners, millers and haulers
to those workers employed by the uranium industry before
January 1, 1972; and
WHEREAS, the amount of monetary compensation awarded
pursuant to the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
differs widely according to whether an individual was exposed
to radiation due to being in a downwind area or according to
the type of uranium industry-related work the individual
performed; and
WHEREAS, under the strict guidelines of the federal
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, many individuals who
have lived downwind from test sites outside of Arizona, HM 15
Page 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Nevada and Utah or who worked in the uranium industry were
provided no remedy for their radiation exposure; and
WHEREAS, on April 28, 2022, United States Senators Ben
Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich co-sponsored United States
Senate Bill 4119, which was signed by President Joe Biden on
June 7, 2022, becoming public law 117-119 and extending the
federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act by two years; and
WHEREAS, members of New Mexico's congressional
delegation are continuing their previous efforts to expand
and improve compensation for individuals exposed to
radiation; and
WHEREAS, on May 18, 2023, United States Senate Bill 1751
was introduced by Senators Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich
and fifteen bipartisan co-sponsors to amend and extend the
federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, expanding
eligibility, raising compensation amounts and extending by
nineteen years the expiration date of the federal Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act; and
WHEREAS, legislation mirroring Senator Luján's bill was
introduced on June 30, 2023 as United States House Resolution
4426 by United States Representatives Teresa Leger Fernandez,
Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez and thirty-nine bipartisan
co-sponsors; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, United States Senator Josh Hawley
introduced United States Senate Bill 3853, and in 2025, he HM 15
Page 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
introduced United States Senate Bill 243 to extend the period
for filing claims under the Radiation Exposure Compensation
Act and to provide for compensation under that act;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the United
States congress be encouraged to support the passage of
United States Senate Bill 243 and any subsequent federal
legislation to expand and improve compensation under the
federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to members of New Mexico's congressional
delegation and members of the United States congress.