Just Moms STL

Roll up those sleeves folks!

Hawley fights for nuclear waste exposure funds stripped from defense bill The Missouri Republican has vowed to block passage of the must-pass bill.

**ALL**
Senator Hawley will be speaking on the Senate Floor around 1:30pm ET (12:30 our time) to talk about impacted community members left out of the NDAA. You'll be able to watch here, and we'll update folks about timing shifts.

U.S. Senate: Floor Proceedings Floor Activity

While I'm disappointed to report that our RECA amendment didn't make it into the NDAA, we are not done! We have other avenue to add this in. We could not have had a stronger advocate on this issue than US Senator Josh Hawley. The Senator and his staff worked tirelessly to call attention to the expiring term of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and to the compelling need to extend its scope to include fair compensation to residents of Missouri and New Mexico and other downwinders poisoned by the federal government’s radioactive waste that was carelessly stored or misplaced throughout the country. Senator Hawley told us today he is definitely not finished and we believe him. If I were an official of the US Department of Energy, I would be extremely anxious about what the senator is going to do next. As for the Moms, we will be back in DC in January or sooner if needed to GET THIS DONE!!

PLEASE share this video on every social media platform you have ever! We need your help to expand RECA!

RECA Amendment We need your help! Please call in support of the RECA Amendment which is currently attached to the National Defense bill.Call and make your voices heard: H...

Thank you Rep. Sam Graves for your support!

Graves confident that payments to radiation victims will be in the final defense bill - Missourinet Negotiations continue in Washington over a final version of the National Defense Authorization bill, which currently contains funding for radiation victims in the St. Louis area. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, said if that funding is stripped out, he’ll vote “no” on the bill and try to ...

More National Press- this time from The Hill!
Keep making thise calls!!

Advocates fear compensation for radiation victims could end with defense bill deal Advocates fear a bipartisan provision of the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that expands compensation for victims of radiation poisoning may be a casualty of the confe…

Excellent article written by Senator Josh Hawley!

Don’t Let Government Get Away With Poisoning Americans | RealClearPolitics This year, Americans had the opportunity to revisit the origins of our nation�s nuclear program with the blockbuster film �Oppenheimer.� But there�s...

Thank you Senator Travis Fitzwater for your amazing support!

Hawley Says He’ll Kill Defense Bill Without ‘Oppenheimer’ Aid Sen. Josh Hawley is threatening to derail the annual defense bill if it doesn’t carry language expanding compensation to more victims of radiation exposure from the federal government’s atomic bomb tests.

Thank you Senator Josh Hawley!!

Hawley threatens to oppose defense bill if it doesn’t include nuclear waste compensation - Missourinet Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley is threatening to oppose the National Defense Authorization Act if it does not include compensation for St. Louis-area radiation victims. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the spending bill that includes the budgets for all of the U.S. armed forces. H...

** URGENT**
We just heard from Senator Josh Hawley that our legislation for RECA is likely going to come down to TODAY!!! We NEED you to stop for a minute and make a quick phone call to Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Mitch McConnell. And I can’t stress this enough…PLEASE be kind and go out of your way in the message to thank them and wish them a Happy Holiday ect in your ask for their support of RECA! We do not want to rake them or anyone else over the coals. We just want to urge them to support this legislation. We also need you to call Congresswoman Ann Wagner’s office and urge her to have a conversation with Speaker Johnson. This is our last chance for this to pass!! PLEASE make these three calls and urge everyone you know to do the same!!
❤️- the Moms
(Suggested message)- Thank you (Speaker Johnson) (Senator McConnell)
Hi, my name is [your name]. I’m calling to urge [Speaker Mike Johnson/Leader Mitch McConnell] to keep provisions to strengthen the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA [pronounced REEK-AH], in the NDAA. S.Amendment 1058, introduced and passed by Sen Hawley in the Senate, would improve RECA by finally including radiation-exposed communities that have been fighting for decades. This amendment was recently cleared by Chairman Jim Jordan, who has also previously said: "No one here disputes that if the Federal Government recklessly took actions that led to our citizens getting cancer, we should provide compensation for that harm." It is also supported by the House and Senate Armed Services committees. Please make sure RECA stays in the NDAA.
Mike Johnson: (202) 225 4000
Mitch McConnell: (202) 224-2541
Congresswoman Ann Wagner (202) 225-1621

All,
Great news! We have had more movement on RECA and moving members who were opposed, so for right now you all can take a week off from making calls. We have spoken with Senator Josh Hawley’s office and others and all your phone calls have and are moving people! Right now our legislation just needs to go through the assigned process. Please stand by and we will post the moment we hear of anything that we need to do! We already have the Missouri Conferees including Rep. Smith on board so no need to call them anymore unless something changes. We are hopeful that once the Senate appoints its conferees, Senator Eric Schmitt will be one of them! While we know the NDAA will be a focus in the next coming weeks, we need to remove obstacles as they come up, but also be careful NOT to create them. Please watch this page closely as updates will hopefully be happening more frequently as we move RECA closer to the finish line. This is a great time to remind everyone that your phone calls and e-mails work!!
Love you all,
The Moms ❤️

Just Deleted the call to action post because things are THANKFULLY MOVING FAST! We will have another call to action in a few. This is good news. Sorry and please stand by!

WE HAVE A SPEAKER!!! Now to get back to the House business of passing the NDAA and keeping our Radiation Exposure Compensation Act RECA in it!! We have a lot of phone calls to make now to see where we are and what we need to do to get this over the finish line. Keep close watch on this page as we report back what we know,
the Moms!!

Mike Johnson, a staunch conservative from Louisiana, is elected House speaker with broad GOP support Johnson of Louisiana swept on the first ballot with support from all Republicans anxious to put the past weeks of tumult behind.

Excellent article in The Hill highlighting our United movement across the Nation to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act!

Activists seek broader compensation for Americans exposed to radiation after decades in limbo Many Americans exposed to radiation by nuclear testing have spent decades awaiting recompense for the long-lasting and sometimes devastating impacts to their health that have resulted from their ex…

***GREAT NEWS!! - We are moving the needle***
All,
We have received news that Rep. Mark Alford from MO has agreed to support the amendment for the expansion of and inclusion of our region in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act! This is a really important win to secure since he will be sitting on the Conference Committee that will decide whether the amendment stays on the National Defense Authorization Act. While we were in DC last week we were able to have a great conversation with Rep. Alford and are thankful he is standing with us! Our focus going forward is ONLY on those who sit on the Conferense Committee since that is the hurdle we face in order for this to even make it onto the House Floor for a vote. While we met with over 40 different offices as a group last week, many of those individuals support us so it isn't necessary to reach out to them again. We also know Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer supports this. The only person we need you all to call for the rest of the week is Rep. Sam Graves. Please just explain who you are and ask him to please support this. There is every reason to think he will be extremely supportive.
PLEASE call Rep. Graves office below once a day for the rest of the week.
Rep. Sam Graves- Phone: (202) 225-7041 DC Office
(816) 749-0800 District Home Office

Rep. Mark Alford backs measure compensating St. Louisans for radioactive waste exposure The Cass County Republican says any efforts to pass the National Defense Authorization Act will likely be stymied if the government shuts down on Sunday.

Incredible progress is being made! We were so blessed to be able to link arms with communities across the Nation who have also been impacted and educate members of Congress about the need for this legislation!

Americans sickened by radioactive waste press Congress for action on assistance - Idaho Capital Sun Several U.S. senators aim to advance legislation to extend coverage from the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA, program.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/keep-pushing-for-federal-compensation-for-radioactive-contamination-here-activists-say/article_ae6886ae-50e1-11ee-b1b0-53f889ca3734.html
ST. CHARLES — Two longtime activists on Monday urged concerned people across the metro area to keep the pressure on for a pending bill in Congress to compensate area residents with illnesses tied to the development of the atomic bomb.

“You have got to reach out to former classmates and friends,” Dawn Chapman of the Just Moms STL group told more than 125 people at a meeting on the issue. “You have got to link arms with people you know and tell them this is real, and this happened.”

Chapman and Karen Nickel, who co-founded the moms group a decade ago in the Bridgeton area, said they were glad to see people from both St. Charles and St. Louis counties at the town hall-style session at a VFW hall.

“We’re coming together as a region,” Nickel said. “It’s great to get you guys all together in this room ... and pushing for this legislation.”

Also on hand were aides to U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who got the Senate in July to vote in favor of expanding an existing federal nuclear radiation exposure survivor program to include residents of St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County. The House has yet to approve the expansion.

It was the second public meeting in two months in the county on the effects of radioactive contamination in the area, following one in New Melle.

At issue is radioactive waste from the processing of uranium ore by Mallinckrodt Chemical Works in St. Louis in helping develop the atomic bomb, beginning in the 1940s.

The waste contaminated areas in north St. Louis County along the Coldwater Creek watershed, and some waste was buried at West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton.

While much of the focus in recent years had been on those areas, state Rep. Tricia Byrnes, R-Wentzville, and others have been pushing to compensate people in the Weldon Spring area who developed cancers associated with Mallinckrodt’s uranium processing there from 1957 to 1966.

The waste contaminated areas in north St. Louis County along the Coldwater Creek watershed, and some waste was buried at West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton.

While much of the focus in recent years had been on those areas, state Rep. Tricia Byrnes, R-Wentzville, and others have been pushing to compensate people in the Weldon Spring area who developed cancers associated with Mallinckrodt’s uranium processing there from 1957 to 1966.

Surface remediation there concluded with completion of a 41-acre, on-site disposal cell in 2001, visible from Highway 94 just west of Francis Howell High School.

Most of Monday’s session was anchored by political science Professor Emeritus Denise DeGarmo, from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, who wrote a 2006 book on disposal of radioactive waste in the region.

Keep pushing for federal compensation for radioactive contamination here, activists say More than 125 people attended a town hall meeting on the issue Monday in St. Charles.

Letter from our Attorney General Andrew Bailey saying he supports Senator Josh Hawley's amendment to add Missouri and the STL/ ST. Charles Region to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

**Important**
All-
PLEASE DO NOT FILL OUT ANY SURVEY THAT ASKS FOR YOUR FORMAL MEDICAL INFORMATION OR GIVE FORMAL DOCUMENTATION/ DIAGNOSTIC IMAGES OF YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBERS ILLNESSES!
This Legislation has not passed yet. When it does, we will make sure you all know where to go to apply and help guide you all for how to do that! This is NOT a class action lawsuit! Please be weary of lawyers wanting to "help" and make sure you are doing your due diligence. Your stories are important and those are fine to give. Again, just not photos/copies of x rays or any other type of formal diagnostic paperwork on letterhead documenting you or a loved one's illnesses.
-Karen and Dawn

So much work is happening behind the scenes! Stay hopeful and engaged friends!

Hawley hopeful radioactive waste compensation plan can withstand legislative headwinds The Republican senator teamed up with Democrats on a proposal that could compensate people sickened by radioactive waste in the St. Louis area.