HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Discussions on expanding the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to Guam and other jurisdictions will commence “soon enough,” according to Hannah D’Avanzo, spokesperson for Guam Del. James Moylan.
“There are a number of pending items that are taking precedence right now, such as (federal) appropriations. But we are certain the conversations on a game plan will soon commence,” D’Avanzo stated.
A provision expanding RECA was cut out of the compromise version of the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law in December 2023 by President Joe Biden.
The main issue behind cutting the RECA expansion was funding. Moylan said his office’s role was to ensure the amendment was not “dead upon arrival” within the GOP-led House because the expansion language did not include a funding source, as required by “the rules of engagement.”
The Senate version of the NDAA contained the RECA amendment, while the version from the House of Representatives did not.
Advocates in the Senate were able to identify funding offsets, but not enough to keep the RECA amendment within the reconciled NDAA.
Speaking on the issue in December 2023, Bobby Shringi, the delegate’s chief of staff, said the delegate’s team was talking to the House agricultural committee and looking at the possibility of a supplemental defense measure as potential new avenues for RECA expansion.
James Moylan
