News Release
24th Navajo Nation Council
On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law a two-year extension of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) that was originally set to expire in July. The United States House of Representatives approved an extension to Radiation Exposure Compensation Act six days after the Senate unanimously passed the extension in May.
This two-year extension allows for a continuation of benefits to eligible claimants under the current program. The new deadline is now July 2024. Please note that the extension only establishes a new due date for the current program. No other changes have been made.
The 24th Navajo Nation Council is working with the Executive Branch, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Navajo Uranium Radiation Victims Committee, and many other partners to push support for H.R. 5338 and S. 2798 “The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2021” also referred to as the “Expansion Bill”. As of today, this has not been approved by the federal government.
The Navajo Nation Washington Office will continue to provide the public with relevant updates regarding the ongoing efforts of the expansion bill when available. Madam Chair Amber Kanazabah Crotty will be leading a delegation of Navajo uranium miners to Washington, D.C. for meetings with Congress and Biden Administration officials the week of June 20, 2022.
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was first enacted in 1990, then amended in 2000. Without reauthorization, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act program was scheduled to sunset in July. The Navajo Nation Council and President Jonathan Nez continue to meet with Congressional leaders advocating for the victims and families of the uranium legacy.
