How Health Care Cuts Threaten RECA Expansion for New Mexicans and Other Downwinders: Insights from the Institute for Policy Studies

Recent research from the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) highlights significant cuts to crucial programs like Medicaid and SNAP, which are being reduced to fund substantial tax breaks for the wealthy, particularly under the new GOP budget bill. While Congress passed a reconciliation bill in July, it has offered little good news for everyday families.

One small victory within this budget involves the renewal and expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). However, as Feleecia Guillen, an IPS New Mexico Fellow, points out, it’s overshadowed by cuts to healthcare and food assistance that many families rely on to survive.

RECA aims to provide compensation to individuals suffering from serious illnesses due to exposure to radiation stemming from the U.S. nuclear weapons program. Sadly, families affected by such exposure often struggle to access necessary healthcare. According to an IPS fact sheet, the new budget will leave over 3.9 million people without health insurance in just 16 RECA-eligible states, including more than 103,000 in New Mexico alone. This is particularly alarming in a state that has a history of nuclear testing.

New Mexico holds a unique place in this narrative. Many residents—especially indigenous, Hispanic, and rural families—were not informed or consulted during the early nuclear tests at Los Alamos and other sites. They deserve justice for the long-lasting impacts these tests have had on their health.

In an interview, Feleecia shares how nuclear testing has shaped the lives of families in New Mexico for generations. She speaks of the heavy toll, as many have lost loved ones to cancers linked to radiation exposure. “Historically, the original RECA only covered certain states and a select group of uranium workers, leaving out countless others in New Mexico who were also affected,” she explains.

For over 30 years, Feleecia and other activists have fought to include New Mexico ‘downwinders’ in compensation discussions. Recent changes in the budget could expand RECA to include these individuals, but there are limitations that worry her. The proposed funding lasts only until the end of 2028 and still excludes areas from states like Nevada and Colorado, which also experienced radiation exposure.

More critically, the new provisions do not address healthcare needs. Feleecia emphasizes that the compensation is insufficient for those living with lifelong ailments; a one-time payment doesn’t account for ongoing medical care required by those struggling with cancer and other serious conditions. With cuts to Medicaid included in the budget, the situation for these communities grows more dire.

This ongoing struggle brings to light the need for comprehensive support and long-term solutions. As Feleecia points out, “We need compensation without compromise. RECA should be extended and strengthened without undermining essential healthcare services.”

By advocating for these changes, communities affected by nuclear exposure hope to secure not just financial reparations, but also the healthcare they desperately need for generations to come.

Listen to Feleecia’s full interview here.

Feleecia Guillen is the 2025 New Mexico Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and an environmental justice advocate.

Source link