Joe Barton: “we are here today to move a resolution that would move forward the process that would ultimately result in a site being…”

“we are here today to move a resolution that would move forward the process that would ultimately result in a site being selected to store high-level nuclear waste that has been generated primarily by our civilian nuclear reactors in this country. Those reactors have been generating electricity for the American people for the last approximately 40 years. Today, 20 percent of our Nation's electricity is generated by nuclear power generators. At the time those power plants were put into operation, there was not a plan on where to store the high-level nuclear waste, because at that time it was assumed that the Congress and the industry and the various advocacy and stakeholder groups would mutually agree on a plan and a site, or sites. That has not happened for a number of reasons. Nuclear power has become very controversial. The issue of where to store the waste has been used as a surrogate on whether one was for or against nuclear power, which brings us to today. In 1987, we passed a series of amendments in an appropriations bill that said we are going to store this waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Since that time, we have spent approximately $7 billion trying to determine whether, in fact, that was a wise decision.”