Through years of effort, Senator (then Rep) Ben Ray Luján, and more recently his successor, Representative Leger Fernández's, worked to get RECA (the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act) extended. The bill passed due to their efforts, the total NM delegation – and support from Republicans in Missouri where other survivors have also never been reached.
We now have two years to get Northern NM uranium miners and their families, test site neighbors who had not qualified due to obsolete restrictions, and all others who now qualify under the extended and expanded bill, registered and claims completed. The benefits are significant for families who have survived under great hardship for years.
Please help get the word out by sharing this important information! We need to make sure that our community members who may be eligible for compensation learn about how to apply.
Rep Teresa Leger Fernández's RECA page has some information on how to apply and a recording of the tele-workshop she held to answer questions about the program:
For questions on the application process or necessary documents to apply, people can also contact these folks:
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University of New Mexico Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program |
Northern Navajo Indian Health Service Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program |
New Mexico Environment Department |
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Zachary Davis B.S. RRT Program Specialist RESEP
The University of New Mexico Department of Internal Medicine Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Promotions
Phone: (505) 272-5880 Fax: (505) 272-5958 |
Denise Bartley, PhD, NP-BC Northern Navajo IHS RESEP Program Director
Northern Navajo Medical Center Field Building PO BOX 160 Shiprock, New Mexico
Phone: 505-368-7392 Fax: 505-368-7055 |
Gina Grimes Management Analyst II Nuclear Workers Advocacy Office Radiation Control Bureau, Environmental Protection Division
Harold Runnels Building PO Box 5469 Santa Fe, NM 87502-5469
Phone: (505) 231-0052 |
