By Christen Commuso, Policy Specialist
As many of you know, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) expansion bill that we have worked on for several years was included in the GOP’s big budget bill, which has already passed in the Senate. I would like to acknowledge Senator Hawley for keeping his promise to our national RECA Working Group by ensuring that RECA is included in any bill moving through Congress. We are grateful for his steadfast commitment to our RECA communities, and we recognize that this move increases our chances of passing RECA. Unfortunately, it also puts us in direct opposition to our broader goals of protecting the environment and public health. It is difficult to view this as a victory when it comes at the expense of Americans’ health, prosperity, and the environment.
This bill not only cuts access to healthcare and food assistance programs that millions of Americans—primarily seniors, women, and children—depend on, but it also rolls back renewable energy incentives while prioritizing more oil and gas production, burdens student borrowers, increases the national debt by trillions of dollars, and so much more.
As a cancer survivor who would benefit from the RECA program, and having worked tirelessly for the past 12 years to share St. Louis’ story, I feel a deep sense of conflict and guilt. We must consider how many members of our community who could benefit from RECA could also lose access to healthcare if the proposed Medicaid cuts are approved.
The bill is currently in the House, where a vote could happen as early as today. We encourage everyone reading this to contact their House representative to express their thoughts and/or concerns about the overall bill. We also invite you to share your comments here.
Make no mistake: we unequivocally support RECA expansion to include all communities across the country who have lost loved ones, are battling their own illnesses, and have sacrificed so much to bring this to fruition. If the bill passes, we WILL promote the RECA section and assist residents in understanding the claims process and its requirements. We forever stand in solidarity with our “nuclear” family.Â
So how can I get included in a request for compensation. I am 75 and have been diagnosed with three different types of cancer in the last six years: Tongue Cancer, thyroid, cancer, and no Breast Cancer
Hello Karen. I am sorry to hear about your multiple cancer diagnoses. Right now, the Department of Justice is accepting mail-in applications only. They are working on creating an electronic portal to file claims, but do not expect it to be ready until December of 2025. You can find the mail-in application here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/media/1410736/dl?inline and more resources here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/reca
How can I participate in compensation? I lived in the 63044 ZIP Code from 1961-2003 and 63034 from 2003-present. Tongue Cancer in 2019 thyroid cancer in 2021 and now Breast Cancer in 2025.
How can I participate in compensation?
Lived in 63033 from 1967-1990. Developed breast cancer that has metastisized to liver
Need to get my husband on the compensation list. He grew up in St. Ann and had Colon Cancer, Luckily e survived it.
Hi Mary. I am sorry to hear about your husband’s cancer diagnosis. Right now, the Department of Justice is accepting mail-in applications only. They are working on creating an electronic portal to file claims, but do not expect it to be ready until December of 2025. You can find the mail-in application here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/media/1410736/dl?inline and more resources here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/reca
Can I find out I can be on compensation list. I lived in Hathaway Manor Subdivision from 1964 – 1972. My mother passed away in August of 1972 from Acute Myeloid Luekemia.
Hi Catherine. My sincere condolences. Right now, the Department of Justice is accepting mail-in applications only. They are working on creating an electronic portal to file claims, but do not expect it to be ready until December of 2025. You can find the mail-in application here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/media/1410736/dl?inline and more resources here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/reca
How am I to participate in compensation? How do we receive any further information on this?
Hi Zandria. Right now, the Department of Justice is accepting mail-in applications only. They are working on creating an electronic portal to file claims, but do not expect it to be ready until December of 2025. You can find the mail-in application here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/media/1410736/dl?inline and more resources here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/reca
We also have an FAQ page with more information here: moenvironment.org/reca
I grew up in the zip code area 63134 from 1960-1983. I was diagnosed with HER2 and invasive breast cancers at age 52; thyroid disease at 53. How do I apply and/or participate in the compensation program?
Hi Mary. I am sorry to here about your health issues. Right now, the Department of Justice is accepting mail-in applications only. They are working on creating an electronic portal to file claims, but do not expect it to be ready until December of 2025. You can find the mail-in application here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/media/1410736/dl?inline and more resources here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/reca
My family grew up in 63134, 63140 area. They was with colon cancer and multiple myeloma and die in different years.
My sincere condolences. Right now, the Department of Justice is accepting mail-in applications only. They are working on creating an electronic portal to file claims, but do not expect it to be ready until December of 2025. You can find the mail-in application here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/media/1410736/dl?inline and more resources here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/reca
I lived in Baden (63147) ares for 16 years. My family bought their home there around 1950. My Dad died from a collapsed lung, (it started from a spot, the size of his thumb, died the next year with the whole lung was covered). Mother died of multiple myeloma (bone marrow) cancer
When we left Baden in 1976, we move to North St Louis (63136). Approximately 20 miles from Granite City, Illinois. Do you think I have a part of the RECA act?
Hi Beverly. My sincere condolences. I’m sorry to hear about your family’s health issues. You can learn more about the program and criteria needed to apply for compensation on our FAQ page here: moenvironment.org/reca and on the Department of Justice’s website here: https://www.justice.gov/civil/reca
The documentation required for surviving children and spouses will make it nearly impossible to collect if the deceased had any sort of life complications (previous divorces, deceased children, etc). How can the average person acquire all of these documents? Plus if the cancer death occurred more than 10 years ago, hospitals are not going to have the required medical records.