Guam promised hearing next year for radiation exposure compensation

The quest for radiation compensation is finally showing some traction. The Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors president Robert Celestial gets us up to speed on where we are on the matter.

"We've been fighting for 15 years to get compensated," he explained. "The people of Guam were exposed to high levels of radiation from 1946 to 1962. And even could be extended even more."

Celestial Zoom'ed into The Link this morning to give an update on Guam's inclusion in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, saying, "We had a Zoom meeting with the chairperson of the Judicial Committee chairman Jerry Nadler, and he was very hopeful and he promised that we're going to have the hearing next year in the Judiciary Committee for the next bill that comes up. So two bills have to be re-introduced - one in the Senate, one in the House."

And although things seem like they're finally moving along, celestial says, Guam's been eligible to receive compensation for quite some time.

"We went before the National Academies of Science in 2004 and we proved it, the National Academies of Science, in 2005, came out with a report stating that the people of Guam are eligible to receive compensation, that they believe that we, the people of Guam, during that time period, are eligible," said Celestial.

The program set to stop accepting applications in 2021 would provide much needed financial and medical support for those affected by radiation exposure. A proposed amendment to the Bill would allot a total of $150,000 in addition to free medical care, opposed to the current allotment of $50,000 in addition to free medical care. Celestial also added that eligibility trickles down the generations.

"It goes down to the spouse if the individual passed away, and if both of them pass away, it goes down to the children can apply. If they can prove that their grandparents qualify, then the grandchildren can apply for the compensation," he said.

If you're interested in applying for the program, check out the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program.