On the recordMarch 5, 2018
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my good friend and chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment's legislation, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017. This legislation is important, not only because of what it means for the future of clean energy opportunities for this country, but also what this means for the safety of our communities. Nuclear energy has become a safe and effective way to generate large amounts of energy capability, while maintaining a source that doesn't produce greenhouse gas emissions. We have come a long ways from Three Mile Island and the safety standards in place to ensure our communities and our grid aren't negatively impacted by nuclear energy. The Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act would finally put in place a permanent repository for the waste generated by energy production that powers millions of homes and businesses across the United States. As of December, there were 61 nuclear power plants in the United States with 99 operating nuclear reactors. Those nuclear plants provide nearly 20 percent of the country's energy production capability. This is significant because these plants have continued to provide reliable flows of energy for decades, giving Americans a carbon-free source of energy to fuel their consumption. But one thing hasn't been addressed: what to do with that spent fuel.…
