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RADIATION COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOCUS OF MEETING IN GRANTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Justice Department officials will participate this week in a public meeting in Grants, New Mexico, to answer questions about the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Program. The session, hosted by Senator Pete Domenici, will be held on Tuesday, July 31, at 4 p.m. at Grants High School.

The RECA program, administered by the Justice Department since 1992, provides payments to eligible Americans injured during the Cold War as a result of their participation in the uranium mining industry and from nuclear weapons testing. Since that time, the Justice Department has approved 3,907 claims worth almost $286.5 million.

Congress amended the Act in July of 2000, expanding its scope and increasing the number of those who would be eligible to receive compensation. As a result, the number of claims received by the Department over the past year has increased dramatically, with more than 3,000 new claims being filed since October, 2000. Unfortunately, a funding shortage had made it impossible to pay all approved claims.

Last week, the President signed into law legislation making funding immediately available to pay all outstanding claims that have been approved by the Radiation Program. The Program has now contacted every individual holding an "IOU" letter and has sent payment forms to be completed in order to expedite the payment process. Once these forms are returned to the Radiation Program, final payment should be able to be made within a few weeks.

The Justice Department is continuing to adjudicate claims as expeditiously as possible, and is working closely with Congress and the Administration to secure a long term solution of the funding problem.

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