Political Quotes

On the recordDecember 12, 2023
I rise in support of Senator Hawley's motion to table. And I speak today on behalf of: Annie, Henry, Cipriano, Rosemary, Tina, Louisa, Francisco, Laura, Wilbert, Charles, and the thousands upon thousands of people who have endured the agony and suffering brought on by our nuclear weapons testing in New Mexico and across the country. In July of 1945, Annie was in her kitchen with her family when, all of a sudden, they heard a boom. The next second, they were on the floor holding onto one another, trying to comfort each other, because around them windows were shattering and walls were crumbling. When they went outside, they thought that it started to snow, but it was ash falling from the sky. Some families, who were away from the community, later that night returned, only to find clothing that they were hanging on a drying line full of this ash that they didn't know where it was coming from. Both Annie and her youngest sister Marcie were the only two children living in their little home--their casita--in Capitan, NM. Both have died from cancer. Henry was just 11 years old when the bomb went off. He recalls thinking the world was ending. Henry watched as his brother, his nephew, and niece all died of cancer. He was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 63. I am sorry to say that we lost him in 2022. And it is not just the downwinders who were impacted. Cipriano worked in the uranium mines for 8 years.…
Said by
Manuel Lujan
Republican · New Mexico

Share

More from Manuel Lujan

Dec 5, 2023

I want to express thanks for the leadership of my colleagues from Texas and Massachusetts and for the work they have done in this space, bringing more and more attention to something that doesn't impact our daily lives until we need it…

govinfo.gov
Feb 20, 2025

we are experiencing a nationwide shortage of police officers. Police departments are stretched thin, making our communities less safe. In the worst cases, some small departments have disbanded completely. Small towns need Federal dollars…

govinfo.gov
May 10, 2023

I very much appreciate that and agree with that.

congress.gov
May 10, 2023

I very much appreciate that and agree with that.

congress.gov

Other voices in this conversation