Fixing Our Broken Nuclear Waste Management Program

Floor Speech

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Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in support of America's nuclear energy industry. Today, America leads the world in nuclear energy production and technological advancement. However, the industry faces unique challenges that prevent us from reaching our full potential when it comes to nuclear energy.

So I thank Mr. Shimkus for hosting this Special Order which gives us a chance to shed light on some of these issues.

Over in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's Energy Subcommittee, we talk a lot about nuclear energy R&D as critical for the United States' national security and energy dominance. Through our numerous meetings over the course of several years, we have put forth multiple bills which will implement long-term R&D investments that will spur American competitiveness and keep us at the forefront of nuclear energy technology. We will need waste sites.

My bill, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, actually provides important policy direction for the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy. First, it provides DOE with statutory directions to leverage its supercomputing infrastructure for modeling and simulation capabilities to develop advanced fission and fusion reactors. Second, this legislation provides DOE with statutory direction to use its authority to enable the national labs to partner with the private sector to construct and operate reactor prototypes at DOE sites and to leverage expertise from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Because nuclear reactors are so expensive and so highly regulated, designing first-of-a-kind reactors requires a blend of creative freedom for engineers testing new designs but assurance of safety throughout that process. DOE sites, particularly the DOE national laboratories, can provide a unique environment that safely allows for this kind of creative testing and development for advanced nuclear technology.

Finally, the bill lays out a clear timeline and statutory guidance for DOE to complete a research reactor that will allow for materials and fuels R&D to take place right here in the United States. Currently, this type of research, which requires access to fast neutrons, is only accessible for civilian use in Russia. While modeling and simulation can accelerate R&D, this research must ultimately be validated through a physical source. The versatile neutron source in this bill will enable this vital research.

Last month, my bill, which contains funding for this important research reactor, the Nuclear Energy Research Infrastructure Act, passed this House unanimously. While we at the Science Committee have been working hard on developing the infrastructure for nuclear research and development, I am thankful Mr. Shimkus is finding a long-term solution to our current challenges with spent nuclear waste. His bill takes an important step forward in authorizing private and interim storage of spent nuclear fuel, while still allowing the Federal Government to responsibly develop a permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel.

I applaud Mr. Shimkus and the Energy and Commerce Committee's bipartisan effort to find a productive, constructive answer to this pressing issue. Together, we will ensure that America's nuclear energy continues to lead the world.

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