To direct the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Secretary of the Interior to obtain and place plaques honoring the Downwinder communities of New Mexico, who suffered detrimental health effects as a result of exposure to radioactive fallout.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Vasquez introduced the following bill; which was referred to …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Downwinder Commemoration Act of 2025 directs three federal agencies to install commemorative plaques honoring New Mexico communities that suffered health consequences from radioactive fallout after the first atomic bomb test. On July 16, 1945, the Trinity test detonated at White Sands, exposing nearby residents to radiation that caused cancer, infertility, and other health problems across multiple generations. The bill requires the Department of the Army, Air Force, and Interior to jointly obtain three plaques and install them within one year at White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands National Park.
Who Benefits and How
New Mexico Downwinder communities and their descendants benefit through official federal recognition of the harm they suffered from the Trinity nuclear test. Advocacy organizations working on behalf of atomic test survivors gain a tangible symbol to support their ongoing campaigns for compensation and medical care. Monument manufacturers and installation contractors receive a modest business opportunity to design, produce, and install the three commemorative plaques at federal facilities in New Mexico.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of the Army, Department of the Air Force, and Department of the Interior each face minor administrative costs and compliance burdens to coordinate the design, procurement, and installation of the plaques. These agencies must work together to determine appropriate designs and locations within their respective facilities. Federal taxpayers ultimately bear the small cost of purchasing and installing the three plaques, though the financial burden is minimal compared to typical federal expenditures.
Key Provisions
- Requires three commemorative plaques honoring New Mexico Downwinder communities to be obtained within one year of the bill's enactment
- Places one plaque at White Sands Missile Range (managed by the Department of the Army)
- Places one plaque at Holloman Air Force Base (managed by the Department of the Air Force)
- Places one plaque at White Sands National Park (managed by the Department of the Interior)
- Mandates that all plaque locations be publicly accessible so visitors can view and learn about the Downwinder communities' experiences
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Directs the Secretaries of the Army, Air Force, and Interior to obtain and place commemorative plaques honoring New Mexico Downwinder communities who suffered health effects from radioactive fallout following the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Symbolic recognition and commemoration of historical injustice suffered by New Mexico communities exposed to radiation from the Trinity nuclear test"
Likely Beneficiaries
- New Mexico Downwinder communities
- Residents near White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands National Park
- Advocacy groups for nuclear test survivors
Likely Burden Bearers
- Department of the Army
- Department of the Air Force
- Department of the Interior (minor administrative costs for plaque procurement and installation)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary_army"
- → Secretary of the Army
- "the_secretary_interior"
- → Secretary of the Interior
- "the_secretary_air_force"
- → Secretary of the Air Force
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Communities that suffered generations of detrimental health effects, including cancer and infertility, as a result of exposure to radioactive fallout following the detonation of the first atomic bomb on July 16, 1945
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology