U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has declared his intention to block any legislative resolution that includes a Utah-exclusive Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) deal. Speaking on the Senate Floor, Senator Hawley criticized a proposal that would limit compensation to victims from only select counties, excluding those in Missouri and other states affected by the federal government's nuclear program.
Hawley's statement comes amid rumors of a possible agreement being formulated within the House of Representatives that would compensate radiation victims from specific areas only. Expressing his disapproval, he stated, "And, now, at this last minute, for House leadership to be preparing... to shove down the throats of these victims across the country, a back-room deal that excludes almost all of them, is not only unacceptable, Mr. President, it is absolutely offensive."
Senator Hawley has been engaged in discussions with House leaders to create a RECA deal that offers compensation to affected individuals nationwide. His efforts have previously seen success in the Senate, which has passed his legislation twice with bipartisan support by a 69-30 vote margin. The proposed bill seeks to extend compensation beyond Utah to include other impacted states such as Missouri and New Mexico.
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