Downwinders Act

The Downwinders Act expands eligibility under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include people who lived or worked in specific New Mexico counties (Bernalillo, Chaves, Guadalupe, etc.) or Missouri ZIP codes (including 63031, 63033, etc.) for at least two years after January 1, 1949, and later developed certain radiation-linked diseases like leukemia or specific cancers. It extends the compensation period from two to eight years after the bill's enactment and adds new provisions for claims related to Manhattan Project waste, requiring documented medical records and proof of physical presence. Compensation amounts include $50,000 for living claimants or $25,000 for surviving spouses/children of deceased claimants. The bill directly affects individuals exposed to radiation fallout from historical nuclear testing, primarily in New Mexico and Missouri.