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One Big Beautiful Bill Provides Important, Overdue Compensation for Idaho Downwinders

Washington, D.C.--Idaho Downwinders could finally receive compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) thanks to a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill passed by the United States Senate.  U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) negotiated the inclusion of Idaho victims in the final language.   

“Many Idahoans have died or suffered as a result of cancer related to fallout from 1950s to 1960s Cold War-era above-ground nuclear weapons testing with no recompense,” said Crapo.  “Idahoans have been unfairly left out of the RECA program for far too many years.  The Senate’s passage of language to include Idaho in the program marks one step closer to ensuring affected Idahoans will finally start to receive the compensation they rightfully deserve.  I urge the U.S. House of Representatives to preserve this provision.”

The provision would:

  • Extend RECA compensation through December 31, 2027;
  • Include Idaho in the list of affected states;
  • Extend downwind eligibility states through November 1962;
  • Set compensation for Downwinders and onsite participants at $100,000; and
  • Expand coverage for uranium miners.

The provision needs to remain in the version of the reconciliation bill to be considered next by the U.S. House of Representatives, and then the reconciliation bill must be signed by the President for the expansion to become law.

Crapo is a longtime Senate lead of expanding the RECA program.  In 2022, Crapo was successful in securing an extension of the RECA program for two years, allowing more individuals more time to apply for compensation.  In July 2023, the U.S. Senate passed, by a vote of 61-37, an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to strengthen RECA.  The program would have been expanded to include Idaho victims.  Later, in December, the amendment was stripped from the conference report of the NDAA.  The program expired June 7, 2024.

To read Senator Crapo’s statement on the full passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, click HERE.

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