Senate Resolution 330, authored by Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, was approved by unanimous consent Thursday. The measure was co-sponsored by Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Democrats from Colorado and New Mexico.

Crapo's measure makes Jan. 27, 2012, a national day of remembrance for Americans harmed by above-ground nuclear weapons testing during the Cold War. The date falls on the 51st anniversary of the first Nevada bomb test. In Congress, resolutions express the sense of the Senate or House and are not considered by the other body.

"We encourage by this local, state and federal activities in support of the issue that we're raising," said Lindsay Nothern, Crapo's spokesman. Crapo also is pressing for a hearing on a bill to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to Idaho and other states not currently covered.

In April, the same six senators that sponsored the non-binding resolution introduced S. 791 to expand the compensation plan.

J Truman, director of the Idaho-based activist group Downwinders, hailed the resolution.

"This is great news," Truman said. "January 27 of course was the day nuclear testing started in Nevada in 1951, and followed by over 100 above ground test that sent fallout downwind. Downwinders across the West will be doing vigils and other activities on that day."

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