NEWS

ST. LOUIS, MO — Last week, Congresswoman Cori Bush celebrated an endorsement from CAIR Action; 501(c)(4) affiliate of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). They join other early endorsers, including Our Revolution, Justice Democrats, St. Louis DSA, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Progressive Jews of St. Louis, National Nurses United, as her grassroots campaign to win back her seat in Missouri's 1st District continues to gain momentum.

CAIR Action engages, educates, and mobilizes Muslim voters, trains emerging leaders, and champions policy priorities that enhance the well-being and representation of Muslim communities. The organization has proudly endorsed Cori for her leadership on housing, healthcare, and racial justice.

Last Tuesday, St. Louis writer and activist Chris Andoe, publisher of Out in STL, shared an op-ed to express his support for Bush’s candidacy for her years of advocacy for everyday people in St. Louis, in contrast to her opponent. Andoe spoke to Cori's track record of representing everyday people in Congress.

Andoe writes, "It’s never been more apparent that the elites pulling the strings in this nation are rotten to the core. If you’re looking for someone willing to challenge corporate power, confront the influence of big money in politics, and consistently center the needs of working people, Cori Bush has a clear record. She has taken difficult votes, stood with workers and tenants, and maintained independence from the donor networks that shape so much of our political system."

You can read the piece in full here.

Additionally, after news broke that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began to demolish six homes in Florissant, MO as part of a federally-funded cleanup project to address contaminated soil, Congresswoman Cori Bush released a statement to express her support for the families who have been affected.

Bush wrote in the statement, "I am devastated on behalf of all the families who have been displaced by the demolition of six Florissant homes built on soil contaminated by hazardous waste in Coldwater Creek. Although I am grateful for the Army Corps of Engineers both for committing to carrying out this cleanup process safely and for compensating the affected families, the necessity of these demolitions shows just how severe the radioactive contamination has been allowed to become over the course of generations of neglect."

"In this time of both pain for the families who are now seeing their homes demolished and hope for a future for their communities where the long-lasting effects of the Coldwater Creek radioactive site no longer plague St. Louis County, my top priority is, as always, to reduce the harm caused by the federal government’s failure to protect local residents from harmful radioactive waste exposure and advocate for those who have been affected. I applaud the work of The North County Community Advisory Group and other local activists who have spent years organizing to protect their communities from the effects of the contamination. I will continue to advocate for those who have suffered from rare cancers, autoimmune disorders, and other illnesses as a result of decades of improperly stored radioactive waste. We all deserve a St. Louis where our communities can thrive, where we have clean air, clean water, and where we don’t have to fear for our health deteriorating as a result of institutionalized neglect for our well-being."

"I am hopeful that this next phase of the cleanup process will serve to benefit the Missourians whose lives and families have suffered the effects of this preventable health crisis. The buildings being torn down are not just buildings. They are homes where residents have grown up, raised their children, and built their lives. Their needs must be at the forefront of any effort to create a safer environment for St. Louis residents."

Over the past decade, Cori Bush has worked tirelessly to help St. Louis recover from the devastating impacts of radioactive waste contamination. In office, she worked with local advocates and championed landmark legislation to advance environmental justice including the Environmental Justice Mapping and Data Collection Act of 2021. Her efforts secured millions in funding to clean up waste and contamination, expanded benefits provided by RECA, and installed warning signs to alert residents of the dangers of the radioactive waste near the creek. This year, she is running for Congress to continue to advocate for the health and well-being of the people of St. Louis and to ensure that every member of our community lives in an environment where they can thrive.