Alan Simpson: “I appreciate the gentleman's amendment and him offering the amendment, and I appreciate his point of view and why he is…”

“I appreciate the gentleman's amendment and him offering the amendment, and I appreciate his point of view and why he is offering it, but this amendment would eliminate $150 million in the bill for the Department of Energy to reorganize its adjudicatory response team and get the Yucca Mountain licensing process back on track and running. Yucca Mountain is the law of the land. You have to remember that. Yucca Mountain is the law of the land, even though the administration has failed to follow that law. It has seen overwhelming support in countless numbers of votes and countless numbers of times in the House and is the only permanent repository option we have on the table. This amendment would put in jeopardy the more than $15 billion--let me repeat that, the more than $15 billion--that has been spent so far on this program. Once the Yucca Mountain application is finished, all Members of this body and the Senate will have the opportunity to decide whether to move forward to construct and use the facility, but killing the process at this point, I think, is shortsighted, even though I understand the gentleman's concern. I, therefore, urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Heck). The amendment was rejected. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will read.…”