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THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2001

As part of a supplemental appropriations bill approved on Tuesday, the Senate has set aside $84 million in funds to provide "compassionate compensation" to victims of radiation.

These funds, however, were not present in the version of the bill passed by the House. The discrepancy would have to be resolved later.

The majority of the radiation victims are in the states of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado where most uanium mining took place. About a quarter are Navajo, according to Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.).

The "compassionate compensation" trust fund allows for victims to receive up to $100,000. The trust fund is currently without monies and dying miners and affected families have been receiving government IOUs for their loss.

Get the Story:
Senate approves funding to aid radiation victims (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 7/12)

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Senate panel approves uranium fund (6/22)
Bill would compensate radiation victims (6/21)
Uranium IOUs not funded by Bush (6/4)
Uranium still leading to death (4/2)
Compensation for radiation urged (3/02)
Uranium compensation slow to come (1/29)
Uranium poisons Navajo miners (7/31)
Law compensates Navajo miners (7/25)