WASHINGTON, DC – The Energy and Commerce Committee today will vote on H.R. 3053, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017, authored by #SubEnvironment Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL). H.R. 3053 provides practical reforms to the nation’s nuclear waste management policy to ensure the federal government’s legal obligations to dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste be fulfilled.

Click HERE to watch #SubEnvironment Chairman Shimkus discuss H.R. 3053

For a fact sheet on the bill, click here.

For a comprehensive list of the committee’s work as it relates to Yucca Mountain, click here.

Energy and Commerce Committee members have been hard at work informing folks across the country about the committee’s work to clean up the spent nuclear fuel sitting in 121 communities across 39 states throughout the country. Check out some of that work below.

Getting the Nation’s Nuclear Waste Disposal Back on Track

By: Full committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Energy Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), and Environment Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL)

“At the end of the day this bill is good for taxpayers, communities, and ratepayers. Thirty-five years ago Congress enacted the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and 30 years ago Congress designated the Yucca Mountain site as the sole location for the first repository. It’s now time for the federal government to fulfill its obligation and permanently dispose of the spent nuclear fuel sitting in our states, alongside our lakes, rivers and roadways. The time for action is now and we intend to roll up our sleeves to get this done.”

Read the full opinion piece online HERE.  

Green, Flores: U.S. must better manage nuclear waste storage

By: Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) and Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX)

“Currently, our committee is working on the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017. This legislation is intended to ensure that previously collected funding is available to pay for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, stop the redirection of ratepayer taxes being used to subsidize other government spending, and allow the federal government to open an interim storage facility to safely store spent nuclear fuel until the permanent repository at Yucca Mountain has opened.

“For too long, Texans have paid the federal government and gotten nothing in return when it comes to nuclear power. We are committed to getting our nuclear waste management responsibilities back on track.”

Read the full opinion piece online HERE.

Nuclear waste of time

By: Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

“Enough is enough. That’s why the House Energy and Commerce Committee is hard at work on a permanent solution, with the environmentally sound Yucca Mountain as the cornerstone of our nuclear waste management policy. This legislation, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017, would focus the Department of Energy’s nuclear waste management activities on successful completion of the Yucca mountain license application. Clearly, completing Yucca Mountain provides the safest and most efficient way to finally remove the high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel from communities around the country.

“It’s time for the people of Georgia, South Carolina and across this country see a return on our investment in the form of a permanent geologic repository that houses both high-level waste and spend nuclear fuel. That’s Yucca Mountain, and we’re working hard to make good on our word to the American people.”

Read the full opinion piece online HERE. 

Walden: Want to clean up Hanford? Finish Yucca Mountain

By: Full committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR)

“The recent incident at Hanford could have been a lot worse. It’s time for the Department of Energy to fulfill their legal obligation to dispose of this waste to assure nothing worse happens. Thankfully, we’re working towards a durable solution at the Energy and Commerce Committee and rest assured, we will get this waste consolidated and safely stored in its permanent home in Yucca Mountain.”

Read the full opinion piece online HERE.