HM 55

                                1  HOUSE MEMORIAL 55
                                2    57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026
                                3  INTRODUCED BY
                                4  Tara L. Lujan and Patricia A. Lundstrom and Rebecca Dow
                                5  and Joseph Franklin Hernandez and Martha Garcia
                                6
                                7
                                8
                                9
                                10  A MEMORIAL
                                11   ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPACT OF RADIATION EXPOSURE ON NEW MEXICO
                                12   RESIDENTS; RECOGNIZING THE EXPANSION OF THE FEDERAL RADIATION
                                13   EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT; URGING STATEWIDE OUTREACH AND
                                14   ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ELIGIBLE PERSONS APPLYING FOR
                                15   COMPENSATION PRIOR TO THE DECEMBER 31, 2027 DEADLINE.
                                16
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                                17  WHEREAS, New Mexico is home to many communities that were
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                                18   exposed to radiation as a result of the trinity nuclear test
                                19   and decades of uranium mining, milling and transport activities
                                20   that supported national defense and energy security interests;
                                21   and
                                22  WHEREAS, for generations, New Mexico downwinders, uranium
                                23   workers and their families have experienced elevated rates of
                                24   cancer and other serious health impacts without formal
                                25   recognition or compensation; and
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                                1  WHEREAS, congress expanded the federal Radiation Exposure
                                2    Compensation Act to include New Mexico downwinders and post-
                                3    1971 uranium workers, providing a one-time payment of one
                                4    hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to eligible persons or
                                5    their survivors; and
                                6  WHEREAS, the expanded eligibility under the federal
                                7    Radiation Exposure Compensation Act requires all claims to be
                                8    filed no later than December 31, 2027; and
                                9  WHEREAS, many eligible New Mexico residents, particularly
                                10   elders, rural residents, tribal members and families of
                                11   deceased persons, may be unaware of their eligibility,
                                12   uncertain of how to document presence or illness or unable to
                                13   navigate the federal application process without assistance;
                                14   and
                                15  WHEREAS, New Mexico maintains critical public health and
                                16   community resources, including the New Mexico tumor registry
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                                17   and local health, aging, veterans and tribal service
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                                18   organizations, that can assist eligible persons in
                                19   understanding eligibility and the application process; and
                                20  WHEREAS, ensuring that eligible New Mexico residents
                                21   receive compensation under the federal Radiation Exposure
                                22   Compensation Act is a matter of justice, dignity and
                                23   responsibility to communities that bore disproportionate risk
                                24   in service to the nation;
                                25  NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
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                                1    REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it acknowledge
                                2    the harm experienced by New Mexico downwinders, uranium workers
                                3    and their families and recognize the importance of the expanded
                                4    federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act as an act of
                                5    federal accountability and recognition; and
                                6  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health, the
                                7    aging and long-term services department, the veterans' services
                                8    department and the Indian affairs department be requested to
                                9    collaborate with community-based organizations, tribal
                                10   governments and local governments to conduct outreach and
                                11   education and to provide technical assistance to ensure that
                                12   eligible persons are informed of and supported in applying for
                                13   compensation under the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation
                                14   Act before the December 31, 2027 deadline; and
                                15        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the house of representatives
                                16   encourage the dissemination of clear, culturally appropriate
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                                17   and accessible information regarding eligibility, documentation
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                                18   options and survivor claims under the federal Radiation
                                19   Exposure Compensation Act, particularly in rural and
                                20   historically impacted communities; and
                                21        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
                                22   transmitted to the governor, the secretary of health, the
                                23   secretary of aging and long-term services, the secretary of
                                24   veterans' services, the secretary of Indian affairs and the New
                                25   Mexico congressional delegation.
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