"Speaker Johnson is the only reason people are suffering right now, and he can fix it."
Dawn Chapman was one of many advocates emotionally expressing the need for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act at a press conference inside the U.S. Capitol Tuesday. The federal compensation program for nuclear waste victims expired in June.
At Tuesday's press conference, many of the victims from across the country shared how they have been treated for severe illnesses after being exposed to radiation. With tears in their eyes and photos of victims in their hands, some people described how painful the experience is.
"In February, my cancer came back, and I had to go through four more surgeries" said Kathleen Tsosie. "I was hoping that with the bill would have helped me with home care while I was going through my surgeries."
Tsosie is one of the many indigenous people impacted by radiation to travel to Washington D.C. for the press conference. Their long journey, a symbol of determination. About two dozen raised money to charter a bus, driving from Albuquerque, New Mexico to D.C. to advocate for RECA to be passed. Tsosie said it took 37 hours.
"It horrific to expect anybody who is under cancer treatment to go 37 hours on a bus to beg for something that should have been given to them." Chapman said. She and her nonprofit, Just Moms STL, also flew to D.C. from St. Louis. It is their eighth visit to the nation's capitol since September 2023.
A bill sponsored by Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley would have renewed and expanded RECA to compensate victims in the St. Louis region. It passed the Senate in March with bipartisan support, but stalled in the House with some Republicans wary about the cost.
"If you go and look at a map and you look at the expansion that this bill would achieve, the Justice this bill would achieve, most of the districts are actually Republican districts." Hawley said, adding, "I don't really want to hear any more fussing from Republicans on the House about this bill. They benefit from it."
The St. Louis area is one of the many places impacted by the fallout of the Manhattan project. Nuclear waste can cause a range of serious health issues. As lawmakers seem to weigh the cost, many continue to suffer.
"The cost has already been paid," Hawley said. "You want to talk about the cost of chemotherapy, the cost of cancer, the cost of lost loved ones, the cost of burials, the cost of funerals - it has been paid by the people in this room."
Lawmakers and advocates say there are enough votes in the House to pass RECA and President Biden has previously said he would sign it. If action is not taken before Jan. 3, 2025, a new bill would have to be drafted and both the House and Senate would have to vote on it again.