Thank you, Senator Feinstein. And let me say, as I have said many times before, how much of a privilege it is just to work with you.

The budget request for this year is $430 million. What do you need that much money for this year?

one of the complaints we've sometimes had about inefficiency is that the jerky quality of the appropriations process sometimes cause wasted money, right?

If there were a private repository... that was willing to take your used fuel, would it be appropriate to use such a repository for that?

I celebrate any example of your coming in under budget.

In multibillion-dollar projects, even $10 million is an encouraging sign to me.

Am I correct that you're able to carry appropriated funds over from 1 year to the next?

We have an opportunity this year to make whatever contribution there is to make.

This is a very important hearing.

There's not really a political partisanship about this issue.

But let me be clear: Yucca Mountain can and should be part of the solution.

So you need for us to act to be able to use those funds.

Let us try this, let us try that, let us try this.

It costs $150 million in 1 year for that one university to comply with all these rules and regulations.

I hope that you will take a look at the importance to this country of the license extensions for reactors that want to go from 60 to 80 years.

I would like to encourage you to proceed with your review of the cumulatively piling up of regulations without any embarrassment because it happens to every single agency.

The President's budget estimates the Nuclear Waste Fund has a balance of $36 billion at the beginning of fiscal year 2016.

What about collegiality at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission?

So, Senator Feinstein, did you--I was confusing--if the Texas application is approved----

But if the staff's final recommendation were positive, could the reactor start and power be generated during 2015?

But you are not saying that utilities should not move it.

If it is a legitimate concern of our country that we want lots of low cost, reliable carbon free electricity...

Senator Alexander. And what will that cost, and do you have the money to do that?

That is important for us to know and understand, so if as we go along this afternoon there is a different answer to that, let us know.

I mean, for 25 years that has been the law. We are told often, 'pay attention to science.' Science has now told us it is safe.