REFERENCE TITLE: Mohave County radiation compensation act

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-second Legislature First Regular Session 2015

HCM 2004

Introduced by Representatives Cobb, Borrelli, Senator Ward: Representatives Barton, Fann, Finchem

 

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

 

urging the United States Congress to enact legislation similar to the Mohave County Radiation Compensation Act of 2013.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the Congress of the United States of America:

      Your memorialist respectfully represents:

      Whereas, the United States conducted nearly 200 atmospheric nuclear weapons development tests from 1945 to 1962; and

Whereas, essential to the nation's nuclear weapons development was uranium mining and processing, which was carried out by tens of thousands of workers; and

Whereas, following cessation of the tests in 1962, many of these workers filed class action lawsuits alleging exposure to known radiation hazards; and

Whereas, these suits were dismissed by the appellate courts, but the United States Congress responded with the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which devised a program allowing partial restitution to individuals who developed serious illnesses after exposure to radiation released during the atmospheric nuclear tests or after employment in the uranium industry; and

Whereas, RECA presents an apology and monetary compensation to individuals who contracted certain cancers and other serious diseases following exposure to radiation released during the atmospheric nuclear weapons tests or following occupational exposure to radiation while employed in the uranium industry during the Cold War arsenal buildup; and 

Whereas, RECA was designed to serve as an expeditious, low-cost alternative to litigation; and

Whereas, Mohave County was not included as an affected area for purposes of making claims under RECA based on exposure to atmospheric nuclear testing; and

Whereas, in 2013, United States Representative Paul Gosar introduced H.R. 424, known as the Mohave County Radiation Compensation Act of 2013, which sought to include Mohave County as an affected area for purposes of making claims under RECA; and

Whereas, H.R. 424 was not enacted.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1.  That the Members of the United States Congress enact legislation similar to United States Representative Paul Gosar's Mohave County Radiation Compensation Act of 2013 that adds Mohave County as an affected area for purposes of making claims under RECA.

2.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.