LONGVIEW, Washington (From news reports) -- Workers are demanding answers from the Nippon paper mill in Longview after a deadly chemical tank rupture last week, according to a U.S. lawmaker out of Washington who represents the district.

Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is calling out executives at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company, demanding they pay their employees while investigating the chemical tank rupture. In a letter sent Monday afternoon, she claimed the company is only paying employees through June 7, and demanded an explanation.

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez spoke out for mill workers at a news conference on May 27, one day after a tank containing white liquor ruptured and killed 11 people while injuring several others.

"This is their lives," she said. "This is their land. This is their livelihoods."

In a letter addressed to Nippon's president, the congresswoman said workers are concerned about their livelihoods and their ability to support their households, on top of the emotional toll they are enduring.

"The mill workers I've talked to want full accountability," she said at the news conference. "They want a comprehensive, unbiased investigation into how this could have happened so the failures can be addressed, so we can have safe jobs, come home to our families at night, and rebuild public trust."

Now she is demanding written confirmation that all employees will receive pay and benefits for the duration of this investigation and any resulting work stoppage, vowing to support workers and the community. She said those affected are part of a skilled workforce whose experience is essential to the future of this facility. At the news conference the week before, she said workers are left facing layoffs and forced to take on more overtime when companies do not invest in infrastructure and equipment.

"We can't be blind to these pressures as we look for answers and we can't look past the grief," she said. "It is so easy to look past the pain and suffering here and try to solve problems before we understand the depth of loss here."

In the letter, Gluesenkamp Perez said her office is available to discuss how to support workers and make connections with the right government agencies during the recovery effort. Local media reached out to Nippon to confirm if they are only paying workers through June 7, but has not heard back.