Chuck Fleischmann

The uranium processing facility is a one-of-a-kind project that you recently visited at the Y-12 Security Complex.

I believe one of the reasons it is important that we return to regular order is to provide certainty for critical infrastructure projects, such as the Chickamauga Lock.

The existing lock is an older, antiquated New Deal structure, and it has had some failures.

I am concerned that the fiscal '18 budget does not include full funding for the inland waterway trust fund.

Chickamauga Lock is a very important project. It is an integral component of the inland waterways system.

Thank you. And one further question. Does NEI support the Department of Energy reestablishing a domestic uranium enrichment capacity for national security purposes in the near term and why?

We encourage Congress to restructure the funding and spending mechanisms of the Nuclear Waste Fund.

We support the establishment of an independent U.S. facility in no less than 10 years.

Federal support for the SMR technology is a sound investment in our Nation's future.

I want to thank you for your advocacy today, and also, to let everyone here know, the EM mission nationally is so critically important.

The super computing initiative has been so critically important to our country and will remain so.

I want to thank you. You came to Oak Ridge and actually spoke at our ETEC meeting, were very warmly received.

We plan to have that capability on line no later than 2025, giving us 3 years of cushion in between the time that capability comes on line and we expect to run out of the existing supply of lithium.

The Government Accounting Office and the Department of Energy's own Inspector General's reviews highlighted a shortage of lithium for use in refurbishing nuclear weapons.

And I thank you. And these changes were made prior to your tenure and prior to my tenure.

I am very concerned about the recent accounts of American hospitals and doctors' offices being the victim of ransomware and other cybersecurity attacks.

Bottom line, new Chick needs to be built, constructed, and funded.

My concern is that once again the President has not put the Chickamauga Lock, new Chick, in the budget.

I am very excited that we have gotten this process started again.

Fortunately, Congress acted to lock in that priority.

I do not mean to be rhetorical but it is the Chickamauga Lock, the new Chickamauga Lock in Chattanooga.

The subcommittee has long been interested in getting the agencies to plan for more than just 1 year at a time.

I represent a district in east Tennessee, so I am very intrigued and interested in what you are talking about, the water in the West.

We need to address this aging infrastructure, and we need to take it on as a Nation.

Madam Secretary, thank you for your hard work on this issue, and I appreciate the very good news on the land transfers.