Angie Craig: “Today we begin a new Congress and an urgent environmental problem remains unresolved. Today I am reintroducing…”

“Today we begin a new Congress and an urgent environmental problem remains unresolved. Today I am reintroducing legislation to address the problem that continues to vex us--that is, how to address our Nation's high-level nuclear waste disposal. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997 that is introduced today answers this problem and is responsible, fair, environmentally friendly, and supported by Members of both parties. Today, high-level nuclear waste and highly radioactive used nuclear fuel continues to accumulate at more than 80 sites in 41 States. Each year, as more and more fuel accumulates and our ability to continue to store this used fuel at each of these sites in a safe and responsible way diminishes. The only responsible choice is to support legislation that solves this problem by safely moving this used fuel to a safe, monitored facility in the remote Nevada desert. This answer will lead us to a safer future for all Americans.”