Decades ago, the federal government conducted nuclear weapons tests right here in Nevada. Veterans and downwinders who lived and served near those test sites were told it was safe. It wasn't. Air Force veteran David Crete, 61, has had multiple tumors. His neurologist links the damage to radiation exposure. His wife had three miscarriages. Two of his daughters have autoimmune conditions. His son has a brain tumor. This is one family's story — there are many more like it across our state.
The federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was meant to help people like David, but it has chronic gaps in coverage, delayed payments, and left thousands of Nevada families without the help they were promised. When the federal government falls short, our state has both the standing and the responsibility to step in. These are Nevada veterans and Nevada families. The testing happened on Nevada soil. We shouldn't be waiting on Washington to make this right.
I'm asking you to champion state-level financial assistance and healthcare support for Nevada residents who were exposed to radiation from nuclear testing and whose federal claims have been denied or left unresolved. Whether that means pushing for a state compensation fund, prioritizing these veterans in existing state benefit programs, or publicly demanding the federal government close the gaps, our Nevada veterans cannot keep waiting. Please act now for the families in our state who got sick serving and living near a test site that made them sick.
