St. Louis RECA Readjustment Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4631

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Labor and Employment

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-09-16T13:53:41Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "St. Louis RECA Readjustment Act" (H.R. 4631) aims to expand eligibility for financial compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). RECA is a federal law that provides payments to individuals harmed by radiation exposure from U.S. government nuclear activities, including waste from the Manhattan Project—the World War II program that developed the atomic bomb. This bill specifically adds certain areas in St. Louis, Missouri, to the list of locations where people can file claims for exposure related to Manhattan Project waste.

Key Provisions

• Amendment to RECA: The bill modifies Section 5A(d)(1) of RECA by adding ZIP codes 63106 and 63107 to an existing list of eligible areas (after ZIP code 63074). These ZIP codes cover parts of St. Louis affected by historical radiation contamination from Manhattan Project waste.
• Effective Date: The change takes effect as if it were part of Public Law 119-21 (a recent expansion of RECA), allowing immediate application without a new waiting period.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This is a targeted update to RECA, which was originally enacted in 1990 and expanded multiple times to cover more exposure sites. The addition of these two ZIP codes broadens the geographic scope for claims related to Manhattan Project waste in the St. Louis area, where radioactive materials were processed and stored during and after World War II.
• No other parts of RECA are altered; the focus is solely on including these specific locations to address previously overlooked exposures.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Residents or descendants in ZIP codes 63106 and 63107 who suffered health issues (such as cancer) from radiation exposure may now qualify for compensation payments, typically ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 per eligible person under RECA. This could provide financial relief to affected families and acknowledge past harms.
• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Justice, which administers RECA claims, may see an increase in applications and payouts from a dedicated trust fund. This could strain the fund if many new claims are filed, potentially requiring future congressional appropriations.
• On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. nuclear history and compensation for American citizens.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Individuals and Families: People living in or connected to the added St. Louis ZIP codes, particularly those with documented radiation-related illnesses from Manhattan Project waste.
• Local Communities: St. Louis residents and advocacy groups pushing for recognition of environmental contamination from Cold War-era nuclear activities.
• Federal Government: Congress (via funding), the Department of Justice (claims processing), and the Department of Energy (historical oversight of nuclear sites).
• Environmental and Health Organizations: Groups like those focused on nuclear justice or public health, which may support or monitor implementation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens RECA's framework by closing a gap in coverage for St. Louis sites, promoting equal access to compensation without creating new legal challenges. Claims must still meet RECA's evidence requirements (e.g., proof of residence and health effects).
• Constitutional: Aligns with the U.S. Constitution's takings clause and due process by providing redress for government-caused harms, but it does not raise significant constitutional concerns as it expands an existing voluntary compensation program rather than imposing mandates.
• Political: Reflects ongoing bipartisan efforts to address legacies of the nuclear age, potentially building support for further RECA expansions before the program's scheduled expiration in 2024 (as extended by prior laws). It highlights regional priorities, such as environmental justice in Midwestern industrial areas, without broader partisan controversy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-07-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• St. Louis RECA Readjustment Act — issued 2025-07-23 — PDF (2 pages)