Dianne Feinstein

The fiscal year 2012 bill directs you to develop a strategy for the management of spent nuclear fuel.

If WIPP can be used for a repository, if the State wants to do that, it seems to me that there may be other places too.

I think we are both in agreement. Are we?

I would like to bring to the meeting what, if we took an aggressive position, could be done from the Department.

We have a no earmarks policy.

I want to find a way to get you what you need.

But if it is not safe and if we cannot do anything with the fuel other than store it next to a reactor, count me out.

I think Senator Alexander, at least, and I will likely be in strong agreement that we have to move it, and we have to enable people to move their waste.

I am very frustrated by it because we know what we have to do.

I think Senator Alexander mentioned that we had that meeting. I remember it well on December 14 with you and the two chairs of the BRC, and the four of us resolved that we would work together, the authorizers and the appropriators.

So it is not fair to say that we have ample supply for current demand.

The problem is our allocation. Our allocation does not allow it because there is the security part of the budget.

So what I want to be sure of is that it is adequately funded. Can you say categorically that it is?

If we keep continuing and do not know where we are going to get the money next year, that is a serious concern.

Let us go to fusion and ITER and the $150 million this year with the United States contribution to ITER subject to grow to $300 million.

And this will not increase the cost of the W76?

Thank you very much, Senator.

Protecting endangered and threatened species is important, but so too are the farms and the communities in California's Central Valley.

The law is very cloudy, and this is a problem.

I would go beyond that and use the word 'critical'.

I'm strongly opposed to it.

Yes, and also it will be a critical tool as well in the cyber arena.

I hope the study that you're doing is going to take a good look at the financial marketplace.

I also want to thank you for your enormous help and the help of FBI with respect to national security.

To me, the tragedy is that Senator Ted Stevens died before he knew this was a faulty prosecution.