Political Quotes

“I would like to enter into a colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee. Mr. Chairman, the Office of River Protection was created to put a focus on the 53 million gallons of wastes in the 177 underground tanks at Hanford in my district in Washington. These wastes are being retrieved from the tanks and are being prepared for the waste treatment plant where they will be vitrified and ultimately sent to Yucca Mountain. For years, DOE was clear that a steady, stable annual funding level of $690 million would allow for the successful completion and hot start of WTP. The department has, however, changed its mind and would prefer to front load funding. I have been clear that, even without increasing the total project cost, spending in excess of $690 million a year at the waste treatment plant now will have impacts on the funds available for other projects, including the work at the tank farms. The waste treatment plant is dependent on two critical elements aside from its own budget: first, a robust program at the tank farms to get the waste ready to feed WTP on time and, second, Yucca Mountain. I appreciate the provisions in this bill to help halt the administration's illegal shutdown of Yucca Mountain, and I ask that you work with me to ensure the correct balance of funding is provided when it comes to the waste treatment plant and the tank farms within the Office of River Protection.”