Political Quotes

“I rise today in support of David Wright's nomination to serve as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Right now, we stand at a critical junction to ensure that our Nation has the ability to provide reliable and affordable power for our constituents, our onshore American manufacturing, and also to win the AI race. Nuclear energy is absolutely central to achieving these goals. Fifty years ago, Congress established the NRC to recognize the foundational principle of having a credible, independent nuclear safety regulator. Since then, the NRC has seen major periods of change, from responding to our most significant nuclear accident to preparing for a nuclear renaissance that did not fully materialize. Through this time, the NRC has evolved on how it functions, but far too frequently, these functions have been inefficient, time-consuming, expensive, and have not allowed our nuclear innovators and the American people to fully realize the benefits of nuclear power. That is why, last year, Congress passed the ADVANCE Act with overwhelming, bipartisan support to make the NRC's functions more efficient, predictable, and affordable. That was my bill. Now the Commission must ambitiously implement this legislation. Additionally, President Trump has tasked the NRC with implementing his Executive order to further reduce the licensing timelines and shed unnecessary regulations. This is a challenge that the Commission must meet, and we expect the NRC to deliver.”