H.R. 4290

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4290 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4290

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.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 2, 2025

Mr. Vasquez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on 
Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

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A BILL

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Downwinder Commemoration Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. PLAQUES HONORING DOWNWINDER COMMUNITIES OF NEW MEXICO.

(a) Finding.--Congress finds that the Downwinder communities of New 
Mexico 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.
(b) Honorific Plaques.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of 
the Air Force, and the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with 
the heads of such other departments and agencies as the Secretaries 
determine appropriate, shall jointly obtain three honorific plaques of 
an appropriate design to commemorate the Downwinder communities of New 
Mexico.
(c) Placement of Plaques.--Of the three plaques obtained under 
subsection (b)--
(1) the Secretary of the Army shall place one plaque at an 
appropriate, publicly accessible location at the White Sands 
Missile Range, New Mexico;
(2) the Secretary of the Air Force shall place one plaque 
at an appropriate, publicly accessible location at the Holloman 
Air Force Base, New Mexico; and
(3) the Secretary of the Interior shall place one plaque at 
an appropriate, publicly accessible location at White Sands 
National Park, New Mexico.
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