SM 27 — IMPACT OF RADIATION EXPOSURE

SENATEA MEMORIAL 27ACKNOWLEDGING 57THTHE LEGISLATURE-IMPACT STATE OF NEWMEXICORADIATION -EXPOSURE SECONDON SESSION,NEW 2026MEXICO INTRODUCEDRESIDENTS; BY Jeff Steinborn and Angel M.

Charley and Benny Shendo, Jr.

and Shannon D.

Pinto and Harold Pope 7 9 A MEMORIAL ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPACT OF RADIATION EXPOSURE ON NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS;

e8 t 17 WHEREAS, New Mexico is home to many communities that were w l n d 18 exposed to radiation as a result of the trinity nuclear test = = 19 a l and decades of uranium mining, milling and transport activities i a e r 20 that supported national defense and energy security interests;

a t m m 21 and d r e 22 WHEREAS, for generations, New Mexico downwinders, uranium c e s k 23 workers and their families have experienced elevated rates of e a n b 24 cancer and other serious health impacts without formal u [ recognition or compensation;

and .233941.1 WHEREAS, congress expanded the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include New Mexico downwinders and post-post-1971 1971 uranium workers, providing a one-time payment of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to eligible persons or their survivors;

and WHEREAS, many eligible New Mexico residents, SM 27 Page 1 particularly elders, rural residents, tribal members and families of deceased persons, may be unaware of their eligibility, uncertain of how to document presence or illness or unable to navigate the federal application process without assistance;

and WHEREAS, New Mexico maintains critical public health and community resources, including the New Mexico tumor registry e t 17 and local health, aging, veterans and tribal service w l n d 18 organizations, that can assist eligible persons in = = 19 a l understanding eligibility and the application process;

and i a e r 20 WHEREAS, ensuring that eligible New Mexico residents a t m m 21 receive compensation under the federal Radiation Exposure d r e 22 Compensation Act is a matter of justice, dignity and c e s k 23 responsibility to communities that bore disproportionate risk e a n b 24 in service to the nation;

u [ NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE .233941.1 - 2 - OF NEW MEXICO that it acknowledge the harm experienced by New Mexico downwinders, uranium workers and their families and recognize the importance of the expanded federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act as an act of federal accountability and recognition;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health, the aging and long-term services department, the veterans' services department and the Indian affairs department be requested to collaborate with community-based organizations, SM 27 Page 2 tribal governments and local governments to conduct outreach and education and to provide technical assistance to ensure that eligible persons are informed of and supported in applying for compensation under the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act before the December 31, 2027 deadline;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the senate encourage the dissemination of clear, culturally appropriate and accessible e t 17 information regarding eligibility, documentation options and w l n d 18 survivor claims under the federal Radiation Exposure = = 19 a l Compensation Act, particularly in rural and historically i a e r 20 impacted communities;

and a t m m 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be d r e 22 transmitted to the governor, the secretary of health, the c e s k 23 secretary of aging and long-term services, the secretary of e a n b 24 veterans' services, the secretary of Indian affairs and the New u [ Mexico congressional delegation.

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