Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium (TBDC)
REMEMBERING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRINITY TEST
*** I M M E D I A T E P R E S S R E L E A S E ***
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Virtual Event at 9:00 a.m. MDT
Access at www.trinitydownwinders.com
Trinity Downwinders are commemorating the 75th Anniversary since the first nuclear test was conducted anywhere in the world and bringing attention to the fact that New Mexicans still have not received Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) benefits.
RECA was passed in 1990 by the US Government to provide health care coverage and compensation to downwinders from other parts of the country but has never included the people of New Mexico. The fund has paid out over 2.3 Billion Dollars in reparations to downwinders of the Nevada Test site but never to New Mexico downwinders. It also provides the best health care coverage available.
Trinity Downwinders will commemorate the New Mexicans who have died from cancer and other radiation exposure related diseases during this event and read firsthand accounts of the bomb blast.
The TBDC has the full support of the New Mexico Congressional delegation. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich are co-sponsors of the bill to amend RECA to include the people of New Mexico. Representative Ben Ray Lujan is the primary sponsor on the House side and both bills have bi-partisan support in the US Congress. Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham is also in support of the bills to amend RECA.