近距离内射合集

I read the local column sent in by Dawn Weaver 鈥淒ownwinders remember who voted no鈥� in the Aug. 11 Journal and decided that I should set the record straight regarding the Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act expansion.

I will get to that, but first I want to tell Weaver how very sorry I am for the legacy of death and destruction her family was left to deal with after the government decided to detonate an atomic bomb adjacent to where they lived. Just like all the rest of us, her family was never warned before or after the bomb was detonated. Our organization has documented thousands of families just like Weaver鈥檚 who鈥檝e suffered four and five generations of horrible cancer and other illnesses. My family is one of those.

I鈥檓 the fourth generation in my family to have cancer since 1945. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of 39. My dad died from tongue cancer; my mom has a tumor that so far is benign. My only sister has had cancer. My youngest brother was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer. If that weren鈥檛 bad enough, his only daughter was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of 23. I鈥檝e lost grandparents to cancer, my mom鈥檚 only sister died of breast cancer, and my dad鈥檚 sister is surviving breast cancer. I鈥檝e lost count of the aunts, uncles, cousins and friends I鈥檝e buried. I know a thing or two about how we鈥檝e suffered in New Mexico.

The Weaver family is but one example of why we started the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium 21 years ago. It is my hope that you will join our organization as we fight for more, because the current expansion of RECA doesn鈥檛 go far enough.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico has often explained why he could not vote for the 鈥淏ig Beautiful Bill.鈥� The provisions in the bill harmed more people in New Mexico than they helped. There is a history of how we got to where we are with RECA today that does not include the 鈥淏ig Beautiful Bill.鈥�

In March 2024, the Senate passed a standalone RECA expansion bill by a bipartisan vote of 69 to 30. Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson blocked the vote on the same House bill.  These standalone bills were co-sponsored by all five members of New Mexico鈥檚 congressional delegation. Vasquez absolutely supported the bill. 

That bill was far more comprehensive than the current RECA expansion (which passed as part of the 鈥淏ig Beautiful Bill鈥�) and would have given us healthcare, 15 years to apply, coverage of additional cancers, along with including all the areas affected like Guam, all of Arizona and Nevada, Colorado and Montana.  Johnson told us he would not allow a vote because it was going to cost too much.  Imagine telling victims like the Downwinders that we are not worthy of receiving recompense because of the cost. 

Many of us went to Las Cruces for a campaign event hosted by former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell of New Mexico with Johnson in attendance, and they refused to meet with us to discuss RECA.  We chanted outside her headquarters asking to speak with them while they were inside ignoring us. 

In contrast, Vasquez has met with us face-to-face and heard our stories firsthand.  He鈥檚 been a supporter since his first day in office. He introduced legislation to place permanent memorial plaques at White Sands National Park and  Holloman Air Force Base paying tribute to the Downwinders of New Mexico. 

I know Vasquez鈥檚 dedication to our issue is not because it is politically expedient, but because he knows the difference between right and wrong.  He鈥檚 given me his word the way good people speak to each other and express their empathy and support.

Tina Cordova is the co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium.