Hawley Touts Provision In Big, Beautiful Bill That Has Even Hard-left Democrats Celebrating

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., stood shoulder-to-shoulder pinch staunch Democrats to observe nan inclusion of cardinal compensation for survivors of atomic testing wrong President Donald Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill connected Tuesday.

Hawley has fought for nan transition of nan Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) since nan programme was canceled successful 2023. It has now been re-upped and greatly expanded acknowledgment to persistent bipartisan advocacy.

Among nan cross-aisle attendees was erstwhile Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., who was among nan astir fierce critics of Republicans while successful Congress. Hawley embraced Bush astatine nan event, however.

"Cori, convey you. We would not beryllium present without you and your work," he said, recounting their aggregate anterior efforts to walk nan legislation.

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Sen. Josh Hawley speaks astatine an arena touting nan transition of nan Radiation Exposure Compensation Act successful St. Louis, Missouri, connected Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Former Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., is pictured conscionable down Hawley to his left. (Fox News (Anders Hagstrom))

Also astatine nan arena was Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., who voted against nan OBBB, but said he supports nan RECA legislation. Navajo Nation president Buu Nygren besides attended nan arena and recounted nan effect of atomic testing connected his community.

The measure applies to sites crossed nan state wherever Americans, civilian, subject and members of nan Navajo Nation, were exposed to radiation owed to atomic weapons testing and nan storing of atomic waste.

The arena took spot astatine 1 specified site: St. Cin Park successful St. Louis. The surrounding area has been wished to beryllium a crab hotzone acknowledgment to nan storing of atomic discarded nearby.

The authorities applies to akin sites across Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alaska, but advocates of nan measure and Hawley himself opportunity location remains much activity to beryllium done.

"This is simply a awesome first step, but location is decidedly much to do," NAACP St. Louis president John Bowman told Fox astatine nan event. "This is simply a bully day, but location are amended days to come."

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NAACP St. Louis President John Bowman pinch his biology chair, Bruce Morris successful St. Louis connected Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Fox News (Anders Hagstrom))

Bowman and others highlighted immoderate zip codes that aren't eligible for nan compensation, and they opportunity activity needs to beryllium done to grow nan archiving Americans tin usage to beryllium they suffice for compensation.

Dawn Chapman, laminitis of Just Moms STL, an defense group devoted to nan radiation vulnerability issue, told Fox that nan process – while difficult – reinforced her belief successful nan legislative process.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., points to President Donald Trump aft he signed nan Big, Beautiful Bill connected July 4 successful Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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She recounted seeing staffers from other sides of nan aisle celebrating and sharing high-fives aft nan measure was passed. The measure passed done nan Senate 3 times successful caller years earlier yet making it to nan president's desk.

"The strategy still works. It does," she said. "The media conscionable often doesn't stock it."