Hawley’s fight for nuclear waste exposure funds could derail defense bill
Dawn Chapman, a resident living near the West Lake Landfill in St. Louis, where nuclear waste from the Manhattan Project is stored, is fighting for compensation for communities exposed to nuclear radiation. Her efforts to reauthorize funding for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) via the National Defense Authorization Act have failed. RECA helps families affected by nuclear waste and is set to expire soon without reauthorization. Senator Josh Hawley has opposed the removal of RECA funding from the bill, blaming party leaders for the decision. The high cost of the reauthorization, estimated at over $150 billion, is cited as the reason for its removal from the bill. Despite the setback, Chapman remains hopeful of securing funds to keep the program alive.
Leave a Comment