Mike Simpson

It is a consideration.

It does affect the priorities.

Would you reprioritize any of your projects because they may have a higher priority under the auspices of America's Great Outdoors?

Thank you for including funding to replace the Minidoka Spillway in your budget request.

I want to thank you for quickly resolving an issue in my district regarding access to public lands.

Boy, it is easy to file suit when someone else is paying. We have a problem here. One that needs to be solved.

That we cannot get water to them is a crying shame and it is just not right.

Surprisingly, I do not have many questions about the Pacific Northwest in that they have done a great job.

I said many times that if we do not clean up the legacy of the past, there will not be a nuclear future in this country.

Thank you for taking several of us to Los Alamos and Sandia and the Nevada test site last March.

I have heard many speak recently about potential new cuts or reductions to our nuclear stockpile, and these reports give me great pause.

The relationship between you and the other commissioners has been damaging to the reputation of the NRC.

If they believe it is just a political organization and becoming more politicized all the time, then you damage that credibility.

The only thing the NRC has going for it is credibility. Under your leadership, that credibility has been diminished.

I am shocked, Secretary Lyons, that you would tell us that operating on a CR has implications for agencies out there.

I believe it is a very important program, and that is another program where, again, in an austere budget, we tried to keep that as high as possible.

Last year I supported efforts in Congress to increase funding for industry cost-shared programs to help extend the life of the current fleet of reactors.

Wouldn't it be better if we had a steady budget for SMRs?

I am disappointed in the budget overall, not necessarily how you allocated the money, but the request.

It is a cloud hanging over economic development and job creation.

I am very concerned about the proposed budget cuts to the advanced reactor program and for a number of reasons.

$8-a-gallon gasoline makes them afraid. It is a cruel tax on the people of north Mississippi.

Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.

Frankly, I don't want to see defense nuclear waste be an orphan left at places that it currently is.

Yes, they will play an important part.