Rep. Vasquez, Moylan Introduce Bipartisan RECA Reauthorization Act, Standing up for New Mexico’s Downwinder Community

WASHINGTON D.C. - On August 17, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) cosponsored the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026, an updated version of the bill to deliver New Mexico's downwinder communities the compensation they deserve.

"I stand with the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium and all those that refuse to let the world forget what happened at the Trinity Site in July 1945. It is past time the U.S. government took full responsibility for the harm it has wrought on our Downwinder and other impacted communities, and this bill marks a major step in the right direction toward the compensation and recognition they deserve," said Vasquez. "By cutting red tape for claimants, extending the filing period by 15 years, covering additional diseases caused by radiation, and so much more, this bill will make a meaningful difference in the lives of Downwinder communities in New Mexico and beyond, and I am proud to support it."

"This legislation brings together a strong bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress, survivors, advocates, and communities who have refused to give up this fight," said Rep. James Moylan (R-Guam). "Together, our voices are stronger, and together, we will keep fighting until every American harmed by radiation exposure receives the justice they have been denied. I'm not backing down until we get this across the finish line for the people of Guam who were impacted and all those still left behind."

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 would continue and significantly expand RECA.The bill would increase compensation to a $150,000 lump sum, allow for reimbursement for documented out-of-pocket medical costs, and provide previously successful claimants the ability to be fully compensated for the maximum amount. It also adds additional cancers and diseases into the specified disease list for RECA claims and allows use of affidavits to prove physical presence, contraction of a specified disease, participation in testing, cleanup, response efforts, and employment history to make it easier for claimants to successfully apply for their RECA benefits. This landmark piece of legislation will extend the filing deadline and RECA trust fund for an additional 15 years giving newly eligible applicants in New Mexico from last year's expansion more time to apply for the benefit.

This builds on Rep. Vasquez's success in passing the Downwinder Commemoration Actinto law through the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, requiring the Department of Defense to establish monuments to the Downwinder community at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base.

In 1945, a secret nuclear test at the Trinity Site exposed hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans to radioactive fallout without warning, contaminating land, livestock, and communities across the state. For decades, these Downwinders suffered serious health impacts without recognition - until 2025, when the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was finally expanded to include New Mexicans in a huge win.

Rep. Vasquez has long worked closely with the Downwinder community to secure the long-overdue recognition and compensation they are owed, and he will continue to do so.

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