Washington — Senators and staff returned Tuesday to an office building shut for three months by anthrax contamination. "I go in with confidence and a prayer," Sen. Joseph Lieberman said.
That mix of caution and optimism was typical for the politicians and employees reclaiming the nine-story Hart building, home to offices of half of the 100 senators.
"I feel completely safe," Sen. Majority Leader Tom Daschle, whose Hart office received the anthrax-laden letter that spurred the building's shutdown Oct. 17, said after re-entering the building Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after visiting staff in his new, temporary office, Daschle said: "It's good to be back. It's good to be confident that we can return to normalcy."
Daschle, D-S.D., won't be able to return to his real office where the letter was opened Oct. 15 until the carpeting and furniture are replaced, which is expected in mid-March.
Nearby, Rep. Mike Pence greeted employees Tuesday who assisted in the cleanup of his office in the Longworth House Office Building, where four members had offices closed since October because of anthrax contamination.
Stacks of notepads, binders and boxes were strewn about the office, which received new furniture and carpeting during the cleanup. "It's now just down to unpacking," said Pence, R-Ind.
Following repeated delays, the 1-million-square-foot Hart building was declared safe last week after several attempts to decontaminate it with chlorine dioxide, a toxic gas.
Officials estimated the anthrax cleanup in Hart and other congressional buildings cost $14 million through December.
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