Sponsors
The bill extends RECA eligibility (including retroactively) to more ZIP codes so more affected people can claim compensation, at the cost of greater administrative workload, potential legal disputes, and higher federal payouts.
People in the newly added ZIP codes become eligible to file Manhattan Project–related RECA claims and may receive compensation for radiation-related illnesses.
Making the change retroactive lets claimants affected since the original Public Law 119–21 effective date receive benefits without having to re-litigate eligibility timelines.
Expanding and clarifying the eligibility list creates a single effective date and clearer statutory coverage, which may speed DOJ claims processing and reduce ambiguity for administrators and claimants.
The retroactive effective date may require DOJ to reprocess or reopen previously closed claims, creating administrative burden and potential delays in payments.
Some individuals may face uncertainty or litigation over whether their illness timelines meet RECA criteria despite ZIP-code inclusion, leading to appeals and legal disputes.
Expanding eligibility increases potential federal payouts, raising program costs and marginally increasing taxpayer burden.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds specific ZIP codes to RECA's Manhattan Project eligibility list and makes the additions retroactive to the earlier amendment's effective date.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Wesley Bell · Last progress July 23, 2025
Establishes a short title and expands the zip-code–based eligibility list under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) for Manhattan Project–related claims by adding additional ZIP codes. The amendment is applied retroactively, treated as if it had been included in the earlier RECA amendment, so affected claimants from the newly added ZIP codes can seek compensation as of the earlier law's effective date.