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U.S. NEWS Friday 7 July 2023
U.S. senators seek expanded compensation for those exposed to

nuclear fallout

By S. MONTOYA BRYAN workers in the industry after
Associated Press 1971, such as miners.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) The reintroduction of the
— U.S. senators from New legislation precedes the
Mexico and Idaho are 78th anniversary of the Trin-
making another push to ex- ity Test in New Mexico on
pand the federal govern- July 16 and comes as the
ment’s compensation pro- federal government pre-
gram for people exposed pares to ramp up produc-
to radiation following ura- tion of the plutonium pits
nium mining and nuclear used to trigger nuclear
testing carried out during weapons.
the Cold War. Crapo said that while ex-
Downwinders who live near tending the compensation
the New Mexico site where program for another two
the world’s first atomic years is critical, more needs
bomb was tested in 1945 as to be done to address the
part of the top-secret Man- health effects of fallout
hattan Project in World War This July 16, 1945, photo shows an aerial view after the first atomic explosion at Trinity Test Site, N.M. from nuclear testing for his
II also would be among Associated Press constituents in Idaho and
those added to the list. elsewhere in the West.
The legislation would they say are connected to expanded coverage are in and in the disposal of the For Luján, amending the
amend the Radiation Expo- exposure. states represented by GOP resulting waste. “We bear compensation act has
sure Compensation Act to Lawmakers are hoping that lawmakers. the brunt of this and they been a long battle. As a
include eligible residents in momentum gained last Cordova said radiation ex- still won’t recognize that member of the U.S. House,
areas affected by fallout in year following bipartisan posure continues to affect we were the first people he has introduced the legis-
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, approval of legislation that the latest generation of to be exposed to radiation lation in each session since
Montana, Nevada, Utah prevented the compensa- families who were exposed from an atomic bomb and first being elected in 2008.
and the territory of Guam. tion program from expiring to fallout from nuclear no one has looked back.” “Through no fault of their
Democrat Ben Ray Luján of can be tapped to expand weapons testing. She point- Advocates have been try- own,” Luján said, “these
New Mexico and Republi- the program and ensure ed to her niece, a 23-year- ing for years to bring aware- workers and nearby com-
can Mike Crapo of Idaho that it doesn’t expire as old college student who re- ness to the lingering effects munities were exposed
announced Thursday that scheduled next summer. cently was diagnosed with of nuclear fallout surround- to radiation as part of our
they were reintroducing The challenge will be get- thyroid cancer, and the ing the Trinity Site in south- national defense effort,
the bill in the Senate after ting more Republicans to 2-year-old granddaughter ern New Mexico and on impacting generations to
previous attempts to ex- support the legislation, said of a Tularosa family who the Navajo Nation, where come without providing
pand the program stalled. Tina Cordova, a cancer had an eye removed due millions of tons of uranium the same relief available to
The measure also has survivor and co-founder to cancer. ore were extracted over other communities includ-
been introduced in the of the New Mexico-based “New Mexico has been decades to support U.S. ed under RECA.”
U.S. House, with supporters advocacy group Tularosa asked to do so much,” said nuclear activities. Since the program began
saying the clock is ticking Basin Downwinders Consor- Cordova, noting the state’s Under the legislation, eli- in 1992, more than 54,000
as more people are diag- tium. She said many peo- role in development of the gibility also would be ex- claims have been filed and
nosed with cancers that ple who would benefit from nation’s nuclear arsenal panded to include certain about $2.6 billion has been

Nevada secures $285M opioid

settlement with Walgreens

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The state ments now totaling more and will be split between
of Nevada has reached than $50 billion nationwide. the state and the signa-
a $285 million settlement "When I first took office as tories of the One Nevada
with Walgreens regarding attorney general, I made Agreement, a coalition of
the pharmacy chain's role it clear that seeking justice Nevada county and city
in the opioid epidemic, for those harmed by the governments, Ford said.
the state's top lawyer an- opioid epidemic was one The state will retain about
nounced Wednesday. of my top priorities," Ford $98.1 million, which will be
The last in a series of multi- said. placed in a fund that was
year settlements with phar- Walgreens had no com- created to help finance
maceutical companies, re- ment on the settlement, a opioid recovery programs
tailers and others, it pushes company spokesman said through the state Depart-
Nevada's total anticipated in an email to The Associ- ment of Health and Human
payments stemming from ated Press on Wednesday. Services. The coalition will Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford gestures during an
interview in Las Vegas, on Dec. 14, 2018.
opioid claims to $1.1 bil- Walgreens is the final de- receive about $116.2 mil- Associated Press
lion, state Attorney General fendant named in a lawsuit lion.
Aaron Ford's office said in the state filed in 2019, Ford's The state reached a $193 deal with CVS in May. to be used to deal with an
a news release. Nevada office said. million agreement with Much of the more than $50 overdose crisis linked to
is among numerous states The $285 million settlement Teva Pharmaceuticals in billion obtained through more than 100,000 deaths
that have reached settle- will be paid over 15 years June and a $152 million settlements nationwide is a year in the U.S.q