WASHINGTON, D.C.—St. Louis-area victims of nuclear contamination joined other victims in Washington D.C. Tuesday, urging the House to pass legislation that would provide compensation to thousands. 

Two members of Just Moms STL joined Senator Josh Hawley, who has been pushing for the legislation. 

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) expired over the summer. It asked for money to pay victims of nuclear radiation and expand it to more than 20 St. Louis ZIP codes.

It’s passed in the Senate twice and Hawley says the votes are there in the house, it just needs to get to the floor. 

“The wait has been too long, and it has been too cruel, and there is no need to wait any longer,” said Sen. Hawley during this morning’s rally. “The Senate is proof that we can pass this bill. We passed it with nearly 70 votes, and we have the votes in the House. We have the votes. We’ve counted them, we have them. We have a majority; we could pass it on suspension.”

Dawn Chapman made the trip with her best friend Karen Nickle made the trip. They are co-founders of Just Moms STL. 

“This is ridiculous, (House Speaker) Johnson is the only reason people in this room are suffering, this one can be fixed, this one can be passed,” said Chapman.