On the recordSeptember 23, 2020
I stand in opposition to H.R. 4447. A clean energy future is not possible without advanced nuclear energy. We are in a global competition. Russia is building seven reactors in Asia, has 22 more under contract in Asia and Europe, and proposals to put more in Africa. China is on pace to double nuclear capacity by 2030 and has stated it wants to build 6 to 8 reactors a year. In the U.S. we are currently building two. If we fall behind, so does our national security and geopolitical standing. That is why I introduced the Next Generation Nuclear Advancement Act, which was ruled out of order as an amendment. All sections of this act, the Nuclear Energy Strategic Plan, and Integrated Energy and Light Water Reactor Programs, have Senate counterparts with bipartisan support. These provisions need to be inserted for legislation to have a chance at becoming law; anything less is only useful as a social media post.
