A Statement from Mary Camacho Torres on Securing RECA Justice
- Mary Camacho Torres
- Jul 16
- 2 min read
The people of Guam deserve to see the long-overdue inclusion of our radiation survivors in the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. For far too long, these families have waited for the justice and recognition they deserve. That is why it remains deeply troubling that Guam was excluded from the RECA expansion enacted in 2025 while our current Delegate served as Guam’s representative in Congress.
Throughout my years in public service, I have fought for those whose voices were too often overlooked. If elected to Congress, I will make securing Guam’s inclusion under RECA one of my highest priorities. But leadership requires more than introducing legislation or holding a press conference. It requires a realistic legislative strategy that gives the measure its strongest possible opportunity to become law.
Today, serious questions remain unanswered by our current Delegate to Congress. Why was Guam excluded from the previous legislation? What specific strategy exists to move the current bill through a Republican-controlled Congress? To date, no Republican co-sponsors or partners have been publicly identified to help build support in the House, nor has a Senate champion been identified to carry the effort in the upper chamber. How will the legislation address its substantial fiscal impact and navigate the budgetary and procedural concerns that could affect its path forward?
These are not merely political questions. They are questions every radiation survivor deserves to have answered. Hope is important but hope without a strategy, risks becoming disappointment. Families who have already waited decades deserve more than another bill number. They deserve a clear roadmap for success. They also deserve honesty. Anything less, as we are seeing today, is unacceptable.
Every piece of legislation introduced in Congress should be accompanied by a plan. That means building bipartisan relationships before introduction, identifying realistic legislative vehicles, working closely with Senate partners, and communicating honestly and consistently with the people of Guam. That is the approach I will bring to RECA, Supplemental Security Income, and every federal issue affecting our island.
Our radiation survivors deserve leadership rooted in honesty, preparation, transparency, and results. They deserve a representative who will tell them the truth, fight relentlessly on their behalf, and never mistake publicity for progress. Whether serving in the Guam Legislature or the United States Congress, every elected official should be measured not by the press conferences they hold, but by the results they achieve. That is the standard I will hold myself to, and that is the commitment I make to the people of Guam.