As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, I pledge to work with my colleagues to accomplish this goal.

I look forward to hearing your views on the role of the NRC in ensuring the safety of the American people.

I am impressed by the President's nominee, Dr. Macfarlane, who brings to this position the critical experience, the intelligence, scientific background, and integrity that we need so much at the NRC.

Today we consider the nomination of Dr. Allison Macfarlane as Chairman of the NRC and the renomination of Kristine Svinicki to the NRC.

We can have the deepest divisions of opinion. This is America; that is what we are known for.

I thought Senator Sessions was extremely honest about what is happening and how it will play out.

I don't have to go through it again. But this is another example.

Let's just bring those disagreements out to the fore and recognize that is how this country is.

We are great because we allow that debate.

Do you agree to ensure the testimony, briefings, documents of electronic and other forms of communication of information are provided to this Committee and its staff and other appropriate committees in a timely manner?

Can I ask if you would put something in writing about that for us?

Will you work to ensure that the schedule is accelerated so safety improvements are implemented within 5 years?

We can disagree and not be disagreeable. We can disagree and be respectful.

I mean, the record speaks for itself.

You don't destroy people, as Senator Sanders said. And I also worry about that, that that is what was going on over there.

So you believe that Fukushima was a nuclear disaster.

I also believe Commissioner Svinicki has not demonstrated the commitment to safety that the American people have a right to expect in this post-Fukushima era.

I am deeply troubled by this Commissioner's statements at her prior nomination hearing that she did not work directly on Yucca Mountain, which she clearly did.