Washington Fourth District Congressman Dan Newhouse and the rest of the state’s delegation requested President Joe Biden urge his administration to support an increased budget for the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management to ensure the federal government can continue to meet its legal and moral obligation to cleanup operations at Hanford.  The lawmakers wrote that the funding is a top priority for the state of Washington, the communities surrounding the Hanford site, and regional Tribes.  The lawmakers’ letter noted this year marks the successful launch of the Tank Side Cesium Removal system, which is the first step in turning low-level waste into glass.  But they also said as design, engineering, and construction of the High-Level Waste Facility is added to the mission scope, it is imperative the Fiscal Year 2024 budget request reflects not only the necessary resources for a critical phase of Hanford cleanup operations, but also the need for continued adequate funding in the Richland Operations and Office of River Protection Environmental Management accounts for subsequent fiscal years.