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Congress·In Progress·H.R. 4290

Downwinder Commemoration Act of 2025

New Mexico: Plaques for Atomic Test Victims

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill, introduced by Vasquez, would create three memorial plaques to honor people in New Mexico known as "Downwinders." These are families who lived near the site of the world's first atomic bomb test in 1945 and were exposed to dangerous radiation.
  • The plaques would be placed at White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands National Park. These locations are near where the "Trinity" test happened, which caused generations of health problems like cancer and infertility for local residents.
  • If passed, the government would have one year to design and install the plaques in areas where the public can see them. This is meant to officially recognize the suffering of these communities, which many feel has been ignored for decades.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

5 milestones7 actions
Apr 21, 2026House

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.

The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.

Apr 21, 2026House

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Apr 21, 2026House

Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged

Mar 18, 2026House

Subcommittee Hearings Held

Mar 11, 2026House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.

News

No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Downwinder Commemoration Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 4290
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionOrdered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
D: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.