Just Moms STL: It makes us furious that nobody from impacted RECA communities across the Nation can get a quick 5 minute meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson. I guess it takes one of us having a net worth of more than seven figures! Karen and I continue to send emails asking for a date that would work for HIM! All we get back is “his schedule is filled for the next few months” from his schedulers. This has been the consistent response for 8+ months!
Message from the Moms – August 22, 2024
Seeing this in print is so different than seeing it online. It was kind of like seeing Atomic Homefront for the first time….it was shocking and a flood of emotions rushing over. We are so grateful to People magazine for highlighting the work Dawn Chapman and I have been doing and the heartbreaking issues our CommUnity faces. It is our hope that this will elevate the fight and get RECA passed in September!!
So thankful to People for this story. This is by far the hardest and most invasive thing I have ever personally done, but I’m proud of what Karen and I have done and built!
Thank you @people for covering our story! #peoplemagazine #moms #momsofinstagram
(If you are looking for the magazine it is in the August 26,2024 edition)
– Karen Nickel and Dawn Chapman – Just Moms STL
Message from the Moms – August 21, 2024
What an amazing turn out by Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium and other RECA community supporters yesterday when Speaker Mike Johnson came to New Mexico! RECA is still in play and our friends are putting pressure on people who are both currently in and running for office as well as the November election. Way to go!!!
– Karen Nickel and Dawn Chapman – Just Moms STL
Downwinders pressure Speaker Mike Johnson on RECA during his New Mexico visit
Both candidates for Congressional District 2 support full expansion of the compensation program
By: Danielle Prokop – August 21, 2024 5:11 pm – Sourcenm.com
Click Here for Article Link – Excerpt Below
LAS CRUCES — Downwinders had a message for the U.S. House speaker on Wednesday: You’re failing people the federal government exposed to radiation and hurting their chance at some measure of justice.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) attended a private event supporting candidate Yvette Herrell seeking to again represent the 2nd Congressional District in New Mexico, and then for a public event announcing national GOP investment in her campaign and other down-ballot races.
Despite the sun beating down on a stretch of gravel outside Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, spirits were high for the 30 or so rallying there, many of whom wore shirts bearing slogans directed at Johnson: “Pass RECA before we die,” or “We are the unknowing, unwilling, uncompensated.”
RECA is the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which expired in June after decades of offering financial assistance to people harmed by U.S. nuclear weapons development. People in New Mexico were never included among those who could seek compensation despite having been downwind of the world’s first nuclear blast.
A bipartisan push in Congress to expand the program failed. Some advocates are still holding out hope for a bill on Johnson’s desk that could extend and expand RECA.
July 28, 2024
July 19, 2024
Just Moms STL: This quote from Speaker Mike Johnson is completely out of touch! For him to even think about using the word “responsible” in the same sentence as justifying why our government won’t compensate those it poisoned is tone deaf at best! How “responsible” was our US Department of Energy being when they poisoned us? Stand by for a call to action!
https://worldjournalnewspaper.com/house-speakers-office…/
Never give up! #SaveRECA – Just Moms STL – July 18, 2024
Message from the Moms – June 30, 2024
Some very important discussion in the Hill today surrounding the exposures for downwind communities in Utah and the need to expand and extend RECA! Dawn Chapman -Just Moms STL
A John Wayne flop has been linked to high cancer rates. A new documentary aims to tell the community’s story.
by Zack Budryk – 06/30/24 3:00 PM ET – The Hill – Full Story Link Excerpt below.
The 1956 movie “The Conqueror” is infamous among cinephiles, both for its casting of John Wayne as the Mongolian warlord Genghis Khan and for a suspicious number of deaths that followed its filming downwind of a nuclear test site. Nearly 70 years later, the makers of the documentary “The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout” hope to tell the story of the affected “downwinder” community in St. George, Utah, near where the film shot as their federal compensation for radiation exposure is on the line.
At the time “The Conqueror” filmed in the Utah desert just outside the town, St. George was 137 miles downwind from the Nevada Test Site, where the federal government conducted more than 900 nuclear tests.
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) for years insisted to locals there was no danger, and when ranchers’ sheep began mysteriously dying, the federal government blamed it on the ranchers’ negligence
Message from the Moms – June 21, 2024
It seems Speaker Mike Johnson wants to know when you all are going to give up! The answer is we are NOT even close to done fighting for this program to be expanded and extended!
RECA expansion advocates signal frustration after meeting with Speaker’s staff by Zack Budryk – 06/20/24 3:48 PM ET – Link to New Article
**RECA Update** June 20, 2024
Speaker Johnson is definitely feeling the pressure. His office has reached out to the Union of Concerned Scientists and others trying to take the temperature of how we all feel about simply allowing another 2 year extension- which would leave out Missouri and other communities who desperately need to be included. The message back to him from ALL communities impacted across the Nation is a hard no! He is indicating that he is uncomfortable with the amount of pressure he is personally receiving from all of us and the media. Karen and I will tell you all what our reply was to that-
How dare Speaker Johnson play the victim and compare his situation, which he caused himself, to anyone of us who are sick and have lost loved ones across this Nation! All he had to do was meet with anyone of the communities BEFORE he allowed this program to expire! So continue your calls to him and all Missouri House members! And we will continue our efforts to meet with him in DC and anyplace else to get another 45 second conversation if need be! What this tells us is that politically he is backed into a corner and cannot simply extend this program without risking the wrath of all of the communities.
Good job keeping up the pressure!
the Moms – Karen Nickel & Dawn Chapman
Getting an update on RECA from Senator Josh Hawley’s office and the Union of Concerned Scientists. We will post an update after we are done.
Message from the Moms – June 12, 2024 – 7:30 p.m.
Just in case any one was wondering…we are still at the airport in DC…we have been sitting here since 5:30. Our flight was delayed for 3 hours!! We have been up since 3am! (Karen Nickel, Dawn Chapman & Christen Commuso)
Message from the Moms – June 12, 2024 – 1:00 p.m.
“Getting closer!!! That moment when the Speaker realizes you’re right in front of him during press!!” Karen Nickel – Just Moms STL
Message from the Moms – June 12, 2024 – a.m.
Back in DC!! Running from meeting to meeting! The energy is a lot different this time. Still pushing for that meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson! Wish us luck!! Karen Nickel – Just Moms STL
Photos of Just Moms STL (Karen Nickel/Dawn Chapman) & Christen Commuso – Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCOE).
Message from the Moms – June 10, 2024
There is a lot happening this week and Karen and I are headed back to DC on Wednesday. This article is the most current as to what negotiations to expand and extend RECA look like right now. We could use your prayers and will be keeping you all in the loop as to any calls to action or phone calls we need you to make.
– the Moms – Karen Nickel & Dawn Chapman
Congress weighs spending cap on nuclear testing victims bill
By David Sivak – Washington Examiner
Click Here for Article
Tom Emmer, R-Minn., (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
June 7, 2024
St. Louis advocates plan next steps to help radioactive waste victims after 34-year compensation program expires Friday
Click here for New Video/Article
Author: Justina Coronel (KSDK)
Published: 6:28 PM CDT June 7, 2024
Updated: 6:28 PM CDT June 7, 2024
June 6, 2024
Republican infighting endangers radiation compensation set to lapse this week
by Zack Budryk and Rachel Frazin – 06/06/24 6:00 AM ET
Click Here for Article
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) addresses reporters after a
closed-door House Republican Conference meeting on June 4, 2024.
June 4, 2024
‘Garbage’: As Congress fails to act, Missouri radiation victims’ hope for federal compensation runs out on Friday
By Michael Ryan – The Heartlander – June 4, 2024
Excerpt of Story Below – Click here for full article
The atomic clock is ticking down to Friday, as Josh Hawley waits for the House to start stirring.
The 1990 Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which provides continued victims of radiation with compensation for dire illness from exposure to WWII and Cold War-era nuclear waste, expires Friday.
Such waste was haphazardly buried and stored in the St. Louis region, and has demonstrably made residents in the region seriously ill.
Yet, the U.S. House is inexplicably sitting on a Senate-passed bill championed by Missouri’s Sen. Hawley that would extend RECA — and expand it to include heretofore neglected victims in Missouri and elsewhere.
Hawley is glad House Speaker Mike Johnson pulled a competing RECA reauthorization bill that would have “gutted” the compensation. But Hawley is frustrated the House won’t take up his bill, which passed handily in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
Why won’t the House act?
Nuclear Testing Victims’ Compensation Program Only Days Away From Lapsing
Advocates had been hoping to expand the program, but even an extension of the existing program appears difficult before a June 10 deadline.
Jun 4, 2024, 05:45 AM EDT | Updated Jun 4, 2024 – Story Link Above
Message from the Moms – June 1, 2024
Oh yes we did!! We drove 2-1/2 hours to Peoria Illinois to the Lincoln Days event to get 45 very important seconds with Speaker Mike Johnson!!
Message from the Moms – May 30, 2024
In case you missed it yesterday. Big thank you to Congresswoman Ann Wagner!!!!
May 29, 2024 p.m.
Just Moms Live Stream on RECA reauthorization
Ann Wagner DID IT!!! She moved mountains AGAIN!!!
Speaker: House will not take up ‘clean’ RECA reauthorization bill next week
By Gregg Palermo St. Louis
UPDATED 7:45 PM CT May. 29, 2024 PUBLISHED 9:38 PM CT May 28, 2024
ST. LOUIS — With a June 7 deadline looming before a federal program which compensates some U.S. victims of nuclear radiation expires, the last 24 hours have brought a series of developments, with the latest being that a bill that would reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Trust Fund for another two years without expanding it to include parts of Missouri, Kentucky, New Mexico, Guam and other regions, will not get a vote when the House returns next week.
Full Story – Click here.
Just Moms STL – Livestream – RECA Updates – May 29, 2024 a.m.
Link to Live Stream
Message from the Moms – May 29, 2024
Please Make these calls… Thank you, Christen Commuso!
URGENT CALL TO ACTION
We received word that Speaker Johnson plans to put a mere 2-year extension bill for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) on the floor for a vote. Meaning, if passed, it would only extend the current program, NOT expand it to include Missouri or other harmed communities excluded from the original bill. It makes no sense to extend a broken, exclusive program. Because it’s clear that Congresswoman Ann Wagner and Congressman Jason Smith have good contact with the Speaker, we are asking everyone to call their offices to:
1) Thank them for championing the expansion of RECA (said ree-ka) and let them know they have your support.
2) Ask them to reach out to Speaker Johnson urging him to support not only an extension, but also the expansion of RECA. Missouri cannot be left behind and must be added to the RECA program. Any bill that leaves us out is unacceptable.
Congresswoman Wagner: (202) 225-1621
Congressman Smith: (202) 225-4404
Thank you in advance!
Christen Commuso
Message from the Moms – May 28, 2024
**Important Update**
We are doing a Facebook live tomorrow morning. We received word tonight that Speaker Johnson is considering putting a Bill on the House floor that would cut out Missouri and all the other expanded communities but would extend RECA for 2 years. We can stop this!! We will have a call to action to share tomorrow as well.
Dawn Chapman -Just Moms STL
May 23, 2024
Amazing day of RECA advocacy yesterday in DC by Tricia Byrnes – State Representative Tricia Byrnes and a group of amazing community members! #SaveRECA
Tricia Byrnes – State Representative- Missouri – May 23, 2024 Update on Trip to Washington, D.C.
1-2 punch 🥊 Last week a large push went to DC, and we followed up again this week…Extend and Expand RECA
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. (Hawley) SB 3853
May 21, 2024 – Washington, D.C.
Just Moms STL & Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE)
A few highlights from last week’s RECA events in Washington DC. We had nearly 2 dozen advocates travel to DC from all over the country, and it was a very positive, productive week:
• We held over 40 meetings with members of Congress, including with the offices of all House Republican leadership: Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Scalise, Majority Whip Emmer, and Republican Conference Chair Stefanik.
• We held a press conference that was widely attended by media and resulted in extensive coverage. You can watch the entire press conference here: https://x.com/SenatorLujan/status/1791154873003569498
• We held a candlelight prayer vigil with Congresswoman Leger Fernandez and many advocates – I would guess that there were nearly 50 people there, including media, and it was a beautiful and moving event.
• Following the press conference and meetings with Speaker Johnson’s staff, his office gave the following statement to a number of media outlets: “The Speaker understands and appreciates Senator Hawley’s position and is working closely with interested members and stakeholders to chart a path forward for the House.” This is exciting progress!
A huge thank-you to everyone who traveled to DC, and to everyone who supported from home!
Additionally, MO State Representative Tricia Byrnes and others will be in DC this week to advocate as well.
Post and Photos by:
Hawley Demands House Reauthorize RECA Before Compensation For Nuclear Radiation Victims Expires – May 9, 2024
Video Link
Message from the Moms –
Video of Senator Hawley from today’s disappointing vote to once again leave RECA out of one of the spending packages! While he is literally doing everything he can to bring RECA home to Missouri and other States who were left out, I don’t honestly know if we have any champions on the House side from Missouri.
You are about to see a side of the Moms that hasn’t reared its head in nearly 6 years- and that is us calling out those who are elected and do NOTHING! Get ready!
We are going back to DC next week to see who will emerge as the House champion for Missouri and who is not on this issue! And by champion, we mean who in the House is willing to use their leverage and political capital to force both Speaker Johnson and Speaker Jeffries to put RECA on the floor for a vote and not just give lip service to this issue!
We will need Congresswoman Ann Wagner to move Speaker Johnson and Congresswoman Cori Bush to move Speaker Jeffries to get this done! Congresswoman Wagner will need the support of her other fellow Republican House members to accomplish this.
Our goal is to meet personally with all of them next week and give you all an update. There have been some amazing statements made by Missouri House members, but it’s time for us to see those words put to action and them move this across the finish line.
Karen Nickel & Dawn Chapman -Just Moms STL
Why the clock is ticking for survivors of nuclear testing – April 30, 2024
By GLORIA GONZALEZ 04/30/2024 02:29 PM EDT With help from Brakkton Booker, Ella Creamer, Rishika Dugyala, Jesse Naranjo and Teresa Wiltz
In 1945, the United States detonated its first nuclear weapon during the Manhattan Project, at the Trinity site in New Mexico. The communities nearby — mostly low-income, mostly people of color — have been ravaged by cancer ever since.
Their plights looked to be on the verge of changing in the last few months, as Congress weighed legislation to give people affected by radioactive contamination in states as varied as New Mexico and Missouri money to pay for the health care costs that have threatened to bankrupt so many of them.
They had reason for optimism: Amid tense stalemates and political finger-pointing on Capitol Hill, a surprising Republican ally — Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri — emerged to corral enough GOP votes and bolster the support congressional Democrats secured over the years.
But that progress hit a major bump in mid-April.
Hawley and Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico teamed up on a bill to extend and expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which created a program to compensate people for health care and other costs related to atmospheric nuclear testing and uranium industry employment.
April 30, 2024 – Another great National News story on RECA and why we need it now!! Please share!! – Karen Nickel & Dawn Chapman -Just Moms STL
Just Moms STL Update – April 19, 2024
IMPORTANT UPDATE ON RECA! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!!!
1st…The RECA amendment did NOT make it IN any of the foreign aid packages.
2. Today Rep Ann Wagner has the most leverage she will ever have with the looming vote to keep or oust Speaker Mike Johnson! The entire St Louis Region is watching how this plays out. After 11 years of fighting for this issue, we understand that it all comes down to horse trading. Actually, both of our congressional offices need to utilize this leverage today!!!
(THIS IS THE STATEMENT COMING FROM CONGRESSWOMAN WAGNER’S OFFICE: It’s deeply regrettable the Rules Committee refused to accept 312 of 319 amendments, including Rep. Wanger’s. The congresswoman will continue to fight and work to find other avenues in the House to get RECA reauthorized and expanded.)
Many of you have asked what your could do, it would help if you would call these two offices:
Congresswoman Ann Wagner DC Office: 202-225-1621
Congresswoman Cori Bush DC Office 202-225-2406
Be sure to thank them for their support! Then ask them to continue to use every possible leverage they have, including the potential ousting of the Speaker of the House to get RECA to the floor for a vote. One last thing….Senator Hawley is still fighting to add RECA onto the tax bill that is in the Senate. If passed there, this would push the bill back down to the House and force a vote. Karen Nickel – Just Moms STL
Just Moms STL Update – APRIL 18, 2024
**Update**- RECA is here and happening right now in the House. This is the amendment Congresswoman Ann Wagner introduced late last night.
H.R. 8038 – 21st Century Peace through Strength Act – April 18,2024
Just Moms STL Press Conference at St. Cin Park on RECA – April 5, 2024
Live Stream Video Link
Sickened by U.S. Nuclear Program, Communities Turn to Congress for Aid
By Catie Edmondson Catie Edmondson, who covers Congress, surveyed St. Louis’s radioactive contamination from three sites, including the banks of Cold Water Creek
Sickened by U.S. Nuclear Program, Communities Turn to Congress for Aid In St. Louis and around the country, people harmed by the drive for an atomic bomb have been shut out of a federal law enacted to help such victims.
Full Story Link
Hawley presses Speaker Johnson to schedule vote on radiation compensation bill
March 12, 2024
by Alexander Bolton – 03/12/24 2:19 PM ET
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is pressing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to schedule a vote on the reauthorization of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which the Senate passed with 69 votes last week.
Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) opposed an earlier version of the legislation that the Senate attached to the National Defense Authorization Act. Link to Article
Message from the Moms: Let’s go! The race is on to get Speaker Johnson to let RECA on the floor for a vote! Stand by for more updates! – Dawn Chapman – Just Moms STL – March 12, 2024
US Senate passes act to compensate victims of radiation exposure in St. Louis – March 7, 2024
Author: Hunter Bassler, Justina Coronel (KSDK) Published: 3:41 PM CST March 7, 2024 Updated: 6:41 PM CST March 7, 2024 The bill now heads to the United States House for debate. Link to Video
Senator Schmitt Urges the Passage of RECA – March 7, 2024
Video of Senator Eric Schmidt’s floor speech for the passage of RECA! For those who don’t know, he grew up in Bridgeton. Karen Nickel & Dawn Chapman -Just Moms STL
Hawley vents frustration to McConnell in tense Capitol meeting – March 1, 2024
by Alexander Bolton 03/01/24 09:09 AM ET (The Hill)
Moving Mountains!!! Karen Nickel & Dawn Chapman -Just Moms STL
“We had a discussion about RECA and I just told him directly to his face what I told all of you, which is I didn’t appreciate that he took it out of the [National Defense Authorization Act.] That’s a direct affront to my state. There are thousands of people who are dying and that he’s the problem and that I take that personally just on behalf of my state and it’s not acceptable to me,” Hawley said after walking out of the meeting in McConnell’s Capitol office. McConnell didn’t appear to change his opposition to Hawley’s legislation but he didn’t block a deal Hawley secured with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to vote next week on a stand-alone bill to reauthorize and expand the radioactive exposure compensation fund.”
Just Moms STL Update – March 3, 2024
All….Right now it looks like there will be a vote sometime this week on the RECA bill in Senate. This is now a standalone bill that must pass in the Senate before it can go on to the House! It has NOT passed in the Senate yet.
Stay tuned to this page, West Lake Landfill
and the STL Toxic Waste Alliance page.
We will be posting updates on who’s office may need some phone calls as soon as we find out who that might be.
It’s going to be a busy week! Dawn Chapman and I will be throwing every ounce of blood, sweat, tears, and energy we have at this this week. Karen Nickel – Just Moms STL
Message from the Moms – February 29, 2024
WE HAVE SOME GREAT NEWS! Senator Hawley was just able to secure a vote for RECA on the Senate floor! The actual vote will happen some time hopefully next week. Please stay close to this page and our Just Moms STL page for more updates and PLEASE pray! We need to get 61 votes!! – Dawn Chapman – Just Moms STL
Hawley vows to attach Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to anything moving on Senate floor
by Zack Budryk – 02/26/24 3:44 PM ET (The Hill)
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) will attach an amendment reauthorizing and expanding a law compensating Americans exposed to radiation by the federal government to all items moving on the Senate floor, his office confirmed Monday.
Source Link
Message from the Moms – February 1, 2024
It’s 4 am and we are back at in on our way to DC and could sure use all the prayers and good thoughts you have to spare! We will post photos and give updates throughout today and all day tomorrow. Love – the Moms -Karen Nickel & Dawn Chapman
MCE and Just Moms STL are heading back to Washington DC for two full days of advocacy work to protect and strengthen RECA. – Christen Commuso – MCE
Push continues to expand RECA to Missouri – February 6, 2024
by: Mallory Thomas Posted: Feb 6, 2024 / 10:30 PM CST Updated: Feb 6, 2024 / 10:30 PM CST
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – On Tuesday, radiation exposure victim advocates are bringing their fight to Washington, D.C. Just Moms STL and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment will meet with politicians to push for the renewal of the RECA bill.
Families in 11 states currently receive radiation compensation. If Senator Josh Hawley’s bill gets approved, Missouri will finally be added to the list.
“We’re back at it. We’re still fighting and you know we have hope. We have strength; you know this is a hard fight and we don’t want people to get discouraged,” said Karen Nickel, Just Moms STL.
It’s their third trip to D.C. in six months.
“We’ve really kind of chipped away, if you will, at the education and made sure that we’ve got a base and then we kind of come back and do a little more,” Dawn Chapman, Just Moms STL, said. “I think this time it’s going to be much easier and we’re going to have people from Arizona and the Navajo Nation with us.”
The fight is for radiation victims.
“Honestly, we have people. We have personal photos. So, the combination of everything I think is going to be powerful this trip,” Chapman said.
The group plans on bringing documentaries, victim photos, cancer statistics, anything that can help explain the effect the Manhattan Project continues to have nearly 80 years later.
“It is the sad part of it that we even have to do that. That we even have to go out and put our stories out like that and we’re so grateful for the people that have been brave enough to share their stories with us to carry those stories to DC because that takes a lot,” Nickel said.
More than 40,000 people currently receive radiation compensation under the bill. Chapman and Nickel said each community comes with thousands of stories of heartbreak, cancer, and illnesses.
“I’ll take my last breath fighting this fight for my kids and this turned into everybody’s kids. We never thought that it would be like that; that it would be everybody’s kids. That I would be fighting for every single kid in this community,” Nickel said.
Message from the Moms – February 1, 2024
We had a DC update on RECA legislation given to us today by Senator Hawley and his staff! March is a big month for RECA! It’s when the spending bills are due which allows for places for RECA legislation to be added. While it might seem quiet…it’s definitely not! A lot of ground work is being done in DC right now preparing and educating Federal Officials. The hard work you all put in a few months ago was NOT in vain. And we will need your support once again to do the same thing when the time comes! 2024 is going to be a monumental year for this region! Stand by for more updates coming more frequently. Love, the Moms – Karen Nickel & Dawn Chapman
