{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://susielee.house.gov/media/press-releases/amid-presidents-threats-resume-nuclear-testing-lee-highlights-bill-expand", "Amid President\u2019s Threats to Resume Nuclear Testing, Lee Highlights Bill to Expand Health Care for Victims of Toxic Radiation Exposure at Nevada Nuclear Test Sites", "2025-11-25", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Susie Lee", "L000590", "susielee.house.gov", "susielee", "https://susielee.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nWatch and Download Video of Press Conference\n\nLAS VEGAS, NV \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) joined Sergeant David Crete, Chairman of The Invisible Enemy, and Jennifer Page, who lost her mother, father, and grandfather to radiation exposure, to discuss her bipartisan bill to expand health care for veterans who have suffered from exposure to radiation and toxic materials as a result of nuclear testing in Nevada.\n\nAs President Trump continues to contemplate resuming explosive nuclear testing, Congresswoman Lee, Sergeant Crete, and Ms. Page discussed the lasting impact decades of explosive nuclear testing had on Nevada.\n\n\u201cOur men and women in uniform make countless sacrifices to keep our nation safe, so it\u2019s our duty to protect them from invisible enemies like toxic radiation exposure,\u201d said Congresswoman Susie Lee. \u201cOver 20 years ago, Congress passed a bill that entitled nuclear weapons workers to receive free medical treatment and fair financial compensation for specific illnesses they contracted because of their selfless service. Unfortunately, hundreds of veterans who were stationed at the Nevada Test and Training Range who have also fallen ill or died have been denied the benefits they rightfully earned. My bipartisan PROTECT Act will correct this oversight, save lives, and bring justice to thousands of veterans who proudly served our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve learned that no legislation goes anywhere without the right co-sponsors. Representative Susie Lee is the original co-sponsor of H.R. 1400, but she\u2019s done much more than just put her name on it,\u201d said Dave Crete, Chairman of The Invisible Enemy. \u201cShe\u2019s been a driving force, promoting this bill and locking in additional co-sponsors and support on both sides of the aisle.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am so grateful for what Congresswoman Susie Lee is doing in Congress to promote our bill. I really think that it\u2019s important for them to take a step back and imagine what it would feel like if it was their family, what it would feel like if it was their child that\u2019s going through these issues,\u201d said Jennifer Page.\n\nIn 2000, Congress passed the Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation Act (EEOICPA) which entitled nuclear weapons workers, as well as some Department of Energy personnel, to receive free medical treatment and fair financial compensation for specific illnesses they contracted as a result of nuclear weapons production and testing. However, certain DOD employees were doing work so secretive that even though they should be covered by the law, they aren\u2019t allowed to prove their work to receive their health care.\n\nCongresswoman Lee\u2019s bipartisan Presumption for Radiation or Toxin Exposure Coverage for Troops (PROTECT) Act would expand similar VA benefits to veterans that were assigned to impacted areas of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), offering them the potentially life-saving medical treatment and financial compensation they need and deserve.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by The Invisible Enemy, a veterans-rights organization composed of veterans and downwinders fighting for the thousands of military personnel who suffered or died from exposure to toxic radiation and materials from decades of nuclear weapons testing at NTTR. You can read more about their work here.\n\nCongresswoman Lee is also leading legislation requiring congressional approval for explosive nuclear tests. More information is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://susielee.house.gov/media/press-releases/amid-presidents-threats-resume-nuclear-testing-lee-highlights-bill-expand"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7000040970742702, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}