Congresswoman Cori Bush Calls for Funding for Those Affected by Controversial Manhattan Project

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On Friday, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., along with state lawmakers and activists affected by the historical repercussions of the Manhattan Project era nuclear weapons program in St. Louis, urged Speaker Mike Johnson to bring a bill up for a vote. They convened at St. Cin Park in Hazelwood, situated within the Coldwater Creek watershed, which has been contaminated to some extent for decades due to the improper disposal of nuclear waste stemming from the early days of the nuclear arms race. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, complete remediation of the creek is not expected until the late 2030s.

Stacey Schimpf shared her experiences growing up in Florissant, where she played in Coldwater Creek. Today, she suffers from autoimmune diseases, and her family has been affected by cancer. The proposed legislation would allocate funds to cover medical expenses and also facilitate access to improved medical screenings.

“We need doctors that know what to look for. My last appointment, my doctor looked at me and she said, ‘I don’t know what this is. All I can do is treat your symptoms. I know you grew up playing in Coldwater Creek, I know that you were exposed, but I don’t know what to do for you.’ So now I take drugs, trying to treat a symptom that we don’t know what the root cause is,” Schimpf said.

Several representatives from the Missouri delegation in the House, including Bush and U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, made unsuccessful attempts to convince Speaker Mike Johnson to append the bill to the latest round of budget legislation that recently cleared Congress, aiming to avert a government shutdown.

Johnson praised Wagner’s endeavors on the matter, affirming last month his intention “to proceed with evaluating and taking action on a reauthorization measure.”

When asked for an update on Friday, a spokesperson for Johnson disclosed no new developments. Wagner was unavailable for comment. Bush, however, emphasized the urgency of the situation on Friday morning, highlighting that “lives are on the line” and stating she had not received any communication from Johnson.

As Congress reconvenes in Washington, Johnson’s position as Speaker could be in jeopardy.

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., initiated a motion last month to oust Johnson as Speaker, employing the same procedures utilized to remove Kevin McCarthy from the post.

It remains uncertain if or when there might be a vote on the officially termed “motion to vacate.” Nonetheless, Johnson, a conservative, has drawn criticism from members further to the right for his handling of the budget agreement with the White House and his endorsement of increased U.S. military assistance to Ukraine.

“He may need to lean on Democratic support to be able to stay in if a motion to vacate actually comes to the floor,” Bush said Friday. “If we do have to vote on it, he would probably be leaning on Democratic support which means that there is some leverage there,” she said, although she acknowledged that if Johnson ends up on the outs, “everything shuts down” until a new Speaker is elected.