| Ground-breaking legislation was introduced in the | | | | Downwinder victims and their survivors would |
| Senate yesterday by Idaho Senators Mike Crapo | | | | receive triple the amount they are currently |
| and Jim Risch. The bill, titled the Radiation | | | | receiving ($50,000), and Onsite Participants would |
| Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of | | | | receive double what they are currently receiving. |
| 2010, would expand coverage for cancer victims | | | | The changes would also include funding for an |
| and their survivors who were exposed to | | | | epidemiological study of the health impacts on |
| radiation during above ground nuclear testing from | | | | families of uranium workers and residents of |
| 1946 to 1962. | | | | uranium development communities. |
| The most exciting change would be the inclusion | | | | Crapo and Risch were joined by Democratic Sens. |
| of all of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, | | | | Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and |
| Idaho, Montana and Colorado. Currently, only 21 | | | | Colorado Democrats Michael Bennet and Mark |
| counties in Arizona, Nevada and Utah are covered, | | | | Udall. Companion legislation will be introduced in the |
| including portions of counties (like Mohave County | | | | House this week by Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M. |
| in Arizona and Clark County in Nevada). Major | | | | In a statement released by Senator Crapo, he |
| areas that have been impacted by the testing, | | | | said, "The victims of this testing have waited |
| such as Las Vegas, would now be covered under | | | | years for just compensation, and the cruel irony |
| the program. | | | | is that the federal government has postponed |
| The RECA Amendments of 2010 would further | | | | action for so long that many aren't living to see |
| widen qualifications for compensation for radiation | | | | this bill passed. I remain optimistic that expanding |
| exposure; would expand the list of compensable | | | | the scope and reach of this program can succeed. |
| diseases, would qualify post-1971 uranium workers | | | | It is the right thing to do because there are so |
| for compensation and equalize compensation for | | | | many people affected throughout the region. |
| all claimants to $150,000. This would mean that | | | | |