Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chairman, I thank Congressman Kihuen for yielding and for his leadership on this issue.

Earlier this evening, we heard from the distinguished Member from Illinois, who continues to push the ``Yucca or bust'' policy of the last 36 years.

He claimed that the Nevada delegation is trying to circumvent the adjudication process to determine if Nevada should be the dumping ground for the Nation's highly radioactive nuclear waste.

He said Congress should reject another amendment to save $190 million from being thrown away on this failed proposal because we should let the licensing process play out without some preconceived outcome.

Well, I am sorry, but that is just more BS. If he really believed that, he would be joining us in support of amendment No. 32, which strips the unnecessary policy rider that prohibits closing down the already-shuttered Yucca Mountain.

It predetermines that Yucca Mountain will be the Nation's nuclear waste dump and handcuffs the administration from choosing another site regardless of what any studies show.

If we are serious about solving this problem, we should change direction and allow consent-based siting. We could start that process today and right now by supporting this amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source