SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — All members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation expressed outrage with the U.S. House leadership’s move to block compensation for people sickened by exposure to radiation during nuclear weapons testing and the mining of uranium during the Cold War.

The bill originally broadened the scope of who could receive compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. This included residents of New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Guam, and Missouri, as well as certain areas of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. These individuals were eligible for tens of thousands of dollars in compensation for the effects of nuclear testing or uranium mines that were not covered by the existing program.

The Santa Fe New Mexican stated that the payment was incorporated into a large defense spending legislation that was approved by the Senate in July. However, the House, which is controlled by the GOP, eliminated these clauses from the bill on Wednesday. This means that New Mexico residents, including those suffering from illnesses caused by exposure to radiation from the first atomic bomb, will not qualify for federal assistance unless it is added back into the final bill.

Senator Ben Ray Luján stated that over the years, many New Mexicans and their loved ones have experienced illness and death due to radiation exposure and the long-lasting effects of the Trinity Test. He emphasized that the first-ever detonation of an atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert in 1945 has had a significant impact. Luján also expressed his belief that it is unfair for New Mexico, which was the location of the first nuclear weapon, to have been excluded from the initial RECA program.

Since being elected to the U.S. House in 2008, Luján, a member of the Democratic party, has consistently proposed legislation to provide compensation for those affected by radiation exposure in every session of Congress.

The recent blockbuster “Oppenheimer”, which delves into the covert Manhattan Project and the emergence of nuclear weapons during World War II, has shed light on ongoing attempts to provide compensation for individuals and families who were exposed to radiation and continue to struggle with associated health issues.

For years, advocates have been attempting to raise awareness about the long-term consequences of radiation exposure on the Navajo Nation. This exposure occurred due to the extraction of millions of tons of uranium ore over several decades to support nuclear efforts in the U.S.