Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague from Illinois for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Energy's Cheney Disposal Cell in Mesa County, Colorado, is a critical component of the DOE legacy management mission to protect public health and the environment. The cell receives radioactive waste materials that were produced decades ago during the uranium milling process. The waste materials continue to be uncovered during road construction, bridge replacement, home foundation excavation, and other construction activities in several towns in western Colorado. Once the waste materials are discovered, they must be properly disposed of at the Cheney Disposal Cell. The authorization for the Cheney Disposal Cell expires at the end of 2023, or when the site is filled to capacity. Currently, the remaining capacity in the cell is approximately 234,000 cubic yards, therefore, an extended authorization is required. H.R. 347 would extend the authorization until 2031. As my colleague from Illinois noted, we passed this legislation in the last Congress, but this bill is now coming up at a critically important time. According to the Department of Energy, if the disposal cell is not reauthorized this year, DOE will have to take steps to begin to decommission the site. This means no more materials will be accepted in 2019 and we will lose a critical component of the DOE's legacy management program. I thank my colleague from Colorado, Ms.…”