Earlier this summer, a consortium of media agencies dropped a bombshell report: The federal government spent decades downplaying or ignoring the risks of radioactive waste in the St. Louis area. And while the issue has been prominent in places like north St. Louis County and St. Charles County for quite some time, the spotlight on the documents revealed in the media reports — and the work of activists who have sought to bring attention to it — sparked fresh calls for governmental action.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley has been particularly outspoken on the issue. He managed to get an amendment attached to a critical national defense bill that could compensate people in St. Louis who became sick. Hawley spoke with STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum about the unusual legislative trajectory of his proposal — and whether it can survive tough legislative headwidns.