Sam Gibbons: “America's favorite pastime, baseball, is upon us here in our Nation's Capital. However, the nuclear utility industry is…”

“America's favorite pastime, baseball, is upon us here in our Nation's Capital. However, the nuclear utility industry is striking out, and it seems they are becoming a backstop, rather than a leader for common sense. Recently Secretary Pena pitched a proposal of up to $5 billion for financial relief to utilities to cover on-site nuclear waste storage costs. Unfortunately, and yet to no one's surprise, the nuclear industry balked at the idea, even though the U.S. Court of Appeals denied the utility request ordering and directing the Energy Department to immediately begin accepting their nuclear waste. Here was a chance for all Americans to hit that home run by keeping this deadly waste on-site, rather than endangering the lives and health of citizens across this Nation, transporting it through their communities. But, once again, the nuclear industry is holding out for a bigger contract, just so they can pad their pockets. Mr. Speaker, the nuclear industry is trying to build an expensive taxpayer-paid expansion team, but Americans are not going to accept the unsafe and ridiculous curve balls this industry is throwing at America.”