Hawley Slams Johnson for Plan to Vote on RECA Bill Excluding Missouri, New Mexico, and Hundreds of Thousands of Americans

Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released a statement after Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) office informed Senator Hawley that the House would take up a Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) bill that fails to compensate thousands of victims across the country, including in Missouri, New Mexico, and the Navajo Nation.

In March, Speaker Johnson pledged to work with interested parties on a reauthorization measure following the House’s failure to take up reauthorization legislation months before its expiration.

Mike Johnson’s office tell us he will ask the House to pass a dirty RECA bill that gives NOTHING to Missouri, New Mexico, the Navajo Nation, our atomic vets or anyone else poisoned by their own government. Total dereliction. No member from Missouri can possibly vote for this

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 28, 2024

Let me be clear: no RECA bill that excludes Missouri will pass the Senate by consent. I will demand every procedural vote. And every vote will be a reminder the House would rather fund foreign wars than compensate Americans poisoned by their government

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 29, 2024

Last week, Senator Hawley objected to a RECA bill offered by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on the Senator floor and pledged to hold any attempt to pass RECA reauthorization without the inclusion of compensation for Missourians. 

Senator Hawley’s legislation to reauthorize and expand RECA to Missouri and other states to include hundreds of thousands of Americans has passed the Senate twice with overwhelming bipartisan support.