ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A St. Louis woman is heading to Washington D.C. to attend the State of the Union.
Dawn Chapman advocates for radioactive waste victims and she's been invited as U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley's guest this week.
Chapman is the co-founder of Just Moms STL, a group demanding change and compensation for victims impacted by radioactive waste. That waste is connected to the first atomic bomb.
The advocacy group has been heading to Washington D.C. for years and this time, it may be the biggest milestone yet.
5 On Your Side has been interviewing Dawn Chapman dating back to 2013.
She said all of those years of hard work led to this moment.
"My first thought... I’m going to be in the same room with the Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm who we've been trying to meet with for years. I think our first trip to D.C. was in 2014, maybe early 2015," Chapman said.
It's been more than a decade of dedication.
The group's next move is bringing them to Washington D.C. this week to fight for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA.
If passed, RECA would compensate radioactive waste victims.
"It's a very odd week because we can look back at what happened years ago that, kind of led up to this point so everything is coming together this week and it's almost eerie but it's also exciting because we have a chance to get this passed. Our goal is to educate, both senators and house members who may be on the fence," she said.
5 On Your Side's political analyst Anita Manion talks about the invitation.
"Bringing guests to the State of the Union is an opportunity to really highlight an issue, so it's not surprising Josh Hawley would take advantage of this opportunity," Manion said. "What I think is interesting about this, it’s an issue that we’ve seen Cori Bush and Josh Hawley come together, which we don’t find many of those."
Chapman added she won't be alone.
"Some of our community members out west will also be attending. Their senators are bringing them as guests. We will all be sitting together, I will be wearing bright green. I understood the assignment, which was to be seen. If you’re not going to listen to us, then you will see us," Chapman said.
For Chapman, her passion has remained paramount, no matter how much time has passed.
"It truly is an honor to be invited. I am very excited to be in that room and be a part of history, despite everything that my government has done to me, my family and community," she said.
RECA needs 61 votes to pass before heading to the House of Representatives.
The overall program is expected to expire in June.
President Joe Biden will address a Joint Session of Congress at the United States Capitol at 8 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 7, 2024.