Nuclear Science Week

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise today to call attention to Nuclear Science Week, Oct. 19-23.

Established in 2010, Nuclear Science Week aims to educate the public on the five pillars of nuclear science: carbon-free energy, global leadership, transformative healthcare, innovation and technology, and space exploration.

In Idaho, Nuclear Science Week is especially important because we host the Nation's lead national laboratory for nuclear energy research and development: Idaho National Laboratory.

In 2019, INL celebrated its 70th anniversary. The laboratory's rich research legacy includes 52 test reactors built and deployed in the eastern Idaho desert, and empowerment of a nuclear energy industry that today produces nearly 20 percent of our Nation's electricity and more than half our zero-carbon emitting electricity.

INL research helped develop America's nuclear Navy, which has contributed to U.S. national security efforts for decades. Research at INL's Advanced Test Reactor, which has been in operation for more than a half century, allowed for the modernization of our nuclear Navy, whose ships and submarines can now operate for decades without costly and time-consuming refueling.

Nuclear Science Week allows us to focus attention on the training, education, and empowerment of the future energy workforce, students across America who will develop the technological breakthroughs of the future. In the meantime, INL remains at the forefront of our Nation's effort to develop and deploy advanced nuclear technologies, including small modular nuclear reactors and microreactors.

As the home of the National Reactor Innovation Center, INL's world- class researchers, working with industry, will develop those technologies that allow us to retain our world leadership role in nuclear energy while ensuring economic prosperity and environmental protection.

In reference to the fifth pillar of nuclear science, space exploration, all of us in Idaho are proud to say that INL played an important role in the recent launch of the 2020 Mars Rover by assembling and testing the nuclear power system that will allow NASA scientists to learn more about our universe.

I am honored to represent this important national laboratory, which embodies the traits that built our Nation: scientific achievement, the pursuit of knowledge, and curiosity.

By spreading the word about Nuclear Science Week and inspiring our youth, we will make the world a better place for everyone.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source