KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, a former mayor of Kansas City, has announced that he will seek a hearing and a congressional investigation into a federal compensation program for employees who became ill after working in nuclear weapons plants.

The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program was established in 2001.

The Kansas City Star reports that Cleaver and other members of Congress say the program should get a closer look after an investigation by news organization McClatchy found that fewer than half of the people who have applied have received any money.

McClatchy reported last week that 107,394 current and former nuclear workers have sought compensation for cancer and various other illnesses.

Cleaver sent a letter to the House Committee on Government Reform Tuesday requesting the investigation.