Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing. Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the Science Committee, which always operates on a bipartisan basis. Once again, we have worked together on the provisions in this bill. I will highlight something I mentioned in passing, which is the fusion energy program. For years and years, people have said that fusion energy is always 50 years away. That was before ignition was achieved at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, the National Ignition Facility, not once, not twice, but many times. We now have a private- sector fusion industry that is charging ahead and making tremendous progress. I have heard, when I have visited with them, their praise for the NRC's guidelines. This is not fission. It doesn't have the challenge of nuclear energy, so it doesn't need the same kind of regulatory scheme. It needs to be sensible, streamlined, solid, and certain. That is what those standards are. Putting them into law is going to help private industry rush forward. I think all of us hope that they will be as successful as they plan to be within the next 5 years. This act will help that happen. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of the House to vote for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.”