MOHAVE COUNTY — After more than three decades of advocacy, the Downwinders of Mohave County are celebrating a landmark victory with the reauthorization and expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). The measure was signed into law on July 4, as part of President Trump’s reconciliation package, dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”
Remaining board members of the Downwinders of Mohave County—Matt Capalby, Cullin Pattillo, and Jean Bishop—expressed their profound gratitude to the federal legislators who supported this measure.
“This is justice, which is long overdue for the people of Mohave County,” said Capalby. “For years we, as downwinders, have lived with the lethal consequences of the nuclear fallout from the Nevada Test Site, without recognition or support. The people of Mohave County and many others from around our Nation, suffered and died. This was due to the devastating effects of radiation exposure from the numerous sites attributed to our Nation’s nuclear weapons program. Many of our citizens were sacrificed for the sake of our national security.”
The Downwinders credit key congressional leaders for including the RECA reauthorization in the budget bill, such as Representative Paul Gosar, Representative Greg Stanton and especially Missouri Senator Josh Hawley.
The Downwinders say the effort was made possible with the support and coordination of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). “Thanks to the UCS, we and many other impacted constituencies, that were impacted by these tragic circumstances, were finally heard,” the organization said in a statement on July 5.
The statement also acknowledged the following individuals: Gary Watson, Henry Varga, Carrie Imus and in memory of Eleanore Fanire (Logas), Danielle Stephens, Eddie D. Pattillo, and Helen Graves.
The Downwinders of Mohave County say that the fight is not over, though, because there are still people and areas that were not included in this legislation and are still suffering from our Nation’s “Cold War” nuclear weapons program. Areas in Nevada, Guam, multiple islands of the South Pacific, Ohio and several other impacted regions were unfairly and inexplicably left out.
For this reason, the Downwinders intend to continue its advocacy efforts until all of the people that have suffered and died receive justice.
The updated RECA provisions extend compensation eligibility through December 31, 2028, giving new claimants the opportunity to come forward. Under the expanded program, downwinders and their survivors, uranium industry workers—including millers, transporters, core drillers, and cleanup crews—are now eligible for compensation up to $100,000.
Eligibility has also been broadened to include individuals who lived downwind of nuclear test sites between September 24, 1944, and November 6, 1962, as well as uranium-related workers active between 1942 and 1990. The legislation recognizes a wide range of radiation-related illnesses for compensation, including thyroid, brain, lung, renal, and other cancers linked to nuclear exposure.
The U.S. Department of Justice will soon issue official guidance for claimants. In the meantime, affected individuals are encouraged to begin collecting relevant documentation—such as proof of residency, employment history, and medical records—in preparation for submitting claims.
