The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support and heads to the President to be signed into law
WASHINGTON – In continued efforts to help those harmed by radiation exposure in Mohave County and across Arizona, Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured language in the annual defense bill calling for the continued compensation of Arizonans exposed to radiation from nuclear testing and uranium mining under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support. Sinema previously introduced the Downwinders Parity Act to extend RECA’s coverage to all of Mohave County.
“Arizonans from Mohave County to Apache County who were harmed by radiation exposure from nuclear weapons testing and uranium mining deserve fair and appropriate compensation for their safety, security, and health,” said Sinema.
On January 27, 1951, nuclear weapons testing took place at the Nevada Proving Grounds, which subsequently harmed Arizonans from radiation exposure who were living in Mohave County who lived and worked near nuclear testing sites. Uranium mining on the Navajo Nation has had additional long-term health affects for the citizens of Northeast Arizona.
Sinema’s Downwinders Parity Act—cosponsored by Arizona Senator Mark Kelly—extends eligibility for compensation for sickness caused by radiation exposure from nuclear testing to all of Mohave County. The City of Kingman passed a resolution in support of this legislation. The National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2022 includes language mirroring Sinema’s bill and passed the Senate with bipartisan support.