President Donald Trump signed his major reconciliation package, the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” on Friday, extending compensation to individuals exposed to radiation from uranium mining and nuclear weapons testing.
The updated Radiation Exposure Compensation Act now allows victims to receive up to $100,000—double the previous amount.
In Arizona, the expansion brings relief to downwinders living south of the Grand Canyon in Mohave County, who were previously excluded from coverage.
Cullin Pattillo, a longtime advocate for downwinders, welcomed the news.
“It’s giving us some justice. The money will be nice for my mother—she could really use it,” Pattillo said.
He pointed out that while $100,000 won’t cover the millions spent on his late father’s cancer treatments, it’s still a meaningful gesture.
“It’s better than nothing. But it’s not life-changing money. It feels more like, ‘Here’s something to acknowledge what happened.’ And that’s OK. I get where the government is coming from,” he said.
The act, which had expired last June, is now extended through 2028.
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