Angie Craig: “let me join my colleague from Nevada and say we are debating a motion to proceed. To proceed to what? To proceed to…”

“let me join my colleague from Nevada and say we are debating a motion to proceed. To proceed to what? To proceed to something that the House and the Senate of the U.S. Congress have spoken to in a substantial majority for the last 3 years, which is that the Government of the United States should honor the 1982 Nuclear Waste Act and take possession of the waste that they promised the utilities they would take in return for the ratepayers paying out billions of dollars to build a permanent repository. The Senators from Nevada have alluded that there is no cost or obligation. It is the word of our Government; it is the law that speaks. It is a solemn obligation under taxes that we have taken to take possession and build a permanent repository. The courts have also, just in the last year, clearly reflected that. This administration has had to quietly admit it. Now they are fighting in court saying, ``We don't want our hands dirtied by our obligation.'' Mr. President, you are without claim, you are without program, but you aren't without politics. I must say that when the Senators from Nevada talk about the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board saying certain things, let me remind the Senate the chairman of that board was appointed by this President. Would it be so unusual that he would reflect the political attitudes of this President? I suggest not.”