Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill reauthorizes and expands the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, extending the program's funding through 2043 and allowing new claims to be filed until 2042. It increases compensation amounts for downwinders and Manhattan Project waste claimants from $100,000 or $50,000 to $150,000, respectively, and introduces a provision for reimbursing documented out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by insurance. The legislation broadens eligibility by adding new geographic areas in states such as Colorado, Montana, Washington, Illinois, and Ohio, as well as the territory of Guam, while also permitting the use of third-party affidavits to verify employment history or physical presence in affected zones. Additionally, it establishes a discretionary process for the President to designate new groups of radiation-exposed individuals for compensation and mandates several health studies regarding the long-term effects of nuclear testing on specific populations.