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Sen. Hawley pens letter to President Biden for Jana Elementary, flexes political muscle

The lawmaker is telling the president he will hold his nominees to positions at the Department of Energy unless the federal government cleans up the school.

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Senator Josh Hawley is taking more action from Washington in his fight to get results for Jana Elementary. After filing a bill to require the government to clean up contamination at the school, Sen. Hawley isn't stopping there.

Wednesday, the senator wrote a letter to President Biden, and said he will use his power as Senator to hold all of the President's nominees for positions at the Department of Energy until the government takes action. 

"The lack of urgency from your administration is outrageous,” he said in the letter.

"If you're sensing a certain impatience in my voice, it's because I'm very impatient about this,” Sen. Hawley said last month putting pressure on the Department of Energy.

Hawley is frustrated the President didn't act on his request to declare a federal emergency. That would've authorized federal relief to those exposed to radiation at Jana Elementary. Now Hawley is flexing his political muscle, telling the president he will hold his nominees to positions at the Department of Energy unless the federal government cleans up Jana.

"It broke our heart to see that it made its way to a grade school,” said Dawn Chapman with the group Just Moms STL. 

She said she is relieved to see leaders fighting for North St. Louis County in Washington. 

"The Department of Energy needs to come back in and if they have to be made to do so, I wish they'd do it on their own, but if they have to be made to do so, sobeit," she said.

Hawley's letter to the President goes on to say: "These families may not be from wealthy New York suburbs or the Bay Area—and they may not be your party's donors—but they are just as important as any American family and deserve the same attention from your administration. I will wait no longer."

"The Department of Energy has enough funding to come in here and clean up this entire region, all the sites and make not just Jana, but everyone whole,” Chapman added. "After 70 years of this being in our community, the time for talking is over and I'm thankful to see that our federally elected officials get that as well."

"It's very positive to hear his reaction to the President and trying to get things going from that perspective … We want to understand what the problem is truly here,” parent Jason Bell said. He also wants more communication from the local school board. “Understanding and answers about what's going on for the future so we can prepare our children."

Last month, Sen. Hawley introduced a bill that would order the federal government to test all Hazelwood schools. Lawmakers are still hashing it out.

You can read Hawley's letter here.

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