House bill calls for radiation exposure study in Northern Marianas

Admin
11 minutes ago
3 min read

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

In a new attempt at expanding the nuclear reparation program, a coalition of House members are proposing a federal study to determine the Northern Mariana Islands' possible exposure to radioactive fallout from U.S. nuclear tests in the Pacific between 1946 and 1962.

“For decades, Pacific communities have lived with unanswered questions about the long-term consequences of America’s nuclear weapons program. The Northern Mariana Islands deserves answers too," CNMI Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds said.

The proposed study, which is incorporated into the newly introduced Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026, would require designated federal agencies to initiate the process not later than 18 months after the bill is signed into law.

"This issue was recently raised with me by members of our community who asked whether radioactive fallout from nuclear testing in the Pacific may have reached the Northern Mariana Islands and what that exposure could have meant for the health of our people," said King-Hinds, co-sponsor of RECRA 2026.

The proposed study would include a review of historical records, meteorological and environmental monitoring data, fallout modeling, declassified documents and other relevant information relating to covered testing.

The new bill seeks to fill the gaps in RECA program by adding Guam and other U.S. jurisdictions impacted by U.S. nuclear weapons production and testing.

“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," said Guam Del. James Moylan, the bill's main author.

Guam's inclusion in RECA has been repeatedly proposed and defeated countless times since the 2005 release of the National Research Council’s report declaring the territory’s eligibility for compensation under RECA.

According to the long-forgotten report, Guam received measurable fallout from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific between 1946 and 1958.

"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," Moylan said.

The bipartisan bill proposes to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2027. This law provides compensation to individuals who developed serious illnesses due to exposure to radiation from U.S. nuclear testing and uranium mining

The new legislation would extend the filing deadline by 15 years, increase compensation, authorize reimbursement of medical expenses, expand the

list of eligible diseases, streamline the claims process through the use of

affidavits where records are unavailable and establish a process for adding future classes of eligible individuals without requiring additional acts of Congress.

The measure is backed by a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers including co-lead Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO), Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), and Brittany

Pettersen (D-CO), while additional members have signed on as cosponsors in support of their communities affected by radiation exposure

"While no legislation can truly rectify that harm, this expansion of compensable

diseases and increase in RECA benefits from $50,000 to $150,000, in addition

to covering medical expenses, is a huge step in the right direction," Bell said.

"Nothing can fully right this wrong, but this effort tips the scales toward justice—

for everyone from St. Louis to Guam," he added.

For the CNMI radtion exposure study, the bill enlists the foowwling officials and agecies to conduct the CNMI radiation study: Secretary of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine

The study would assess the extent to which radioactive fallout resulting from covered testing reached Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

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