Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2019.

I want to thank the gentleman from Idaho, Representative Mike Simpson, the chairman of the House Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee for bringing a pro-science bill to the floor that supports nuclear energy innovation. I strongly support division A of this legislation and appreciate the chairman's work on this bill.

Over the past 4 years, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee championed legislation to provide the tools needed to develop advanced nuclear reactor technology in these United States. My bill, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, passed the House three times last Congress and, most recently, was included in H.R. 589, the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act, that passed the House in January of last year.

A key part of this legislation authorizes DOE to construct a research reactor. This reactor, or versatile neutron source, is critical for the development of advanced reactor designs, materials, and nuclear fuels. Access to fast neutrons currently only available for civilian research in Russia is crucial for private sector development of next generation materials and fuels needed for advanced nuclear reactor technology.

The versatile neutron source will also enable the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to verify data on new fuels, materials, and designs more efficiently, expediting regulatory approval for advanced nuclear reactors.

Earlier this year, the House passed a second bill that authorizes specific funding from within the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy for the construction of that versatile neutron source. My bill, the Nuclear Energy Research Infrastructure Act, included $100 million for this project in fiscal year 2019.

While I am pleased to see the report for this legislation direct $65 million in funding for this facility, we must move forward on construction for the versatile neutron source as quickly as possible. My amendment is intended to increase funding for this vital project from within the Office of Nuclear Energy to match the House-passed authorization.

Modeling and simulation can accelerate R&D, but nuclear energy research must be validated through a physical source like a research reactor. Building this open-access user facility in the DOE national lab system will facilitate nuclear energy research in the United States, which otherwise simply will not take place. We cannot afford to lose the ability to develop innovative nuclear technology right here at home.

I want to again thank Chairman Simpson for his support of nuclear energy research and for prioritizing the research infrastructure that keeps America safe while keeping America globally competitive.

I am prepared to withdraw my amendment and to continue working with the chairman to advance the House-passed authorization levels for this important project in conference if I can get assurance from him.

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Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I withdraw my amendment.

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