On the recordJanuary 23, 2017
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 590, the Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2017. This bill would require the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to work together to further the development of advanced nuclear technology. By directing the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to enter into a memorandum of understanding, this bill will reduce bureaucratic barriers to advanced nuclear technology research and development. Growing a closer partnership between the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will help to chart an energy independence path for our Nation as we seek new possibilities and alternatives to power our way to a better future. Energy independence is critical to both our national security and to the continued growth of our economy. There has been a considerable amount of research and development that has gone into nuclear energy, and it accounts for 60 percent of the clean energy produced in the United States. This legislation will knock down those walls to innovation and will provide an opportunity to develop advanced reactor designs that could be vital to our energy infrastructure. I applaud my good friend, Mr. Latta, for his leadership on this issue, and the Energy and Commerce Committee for their work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
