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Floor Speech
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, today, I rise to encourage and urge support for our bipartisan, bicameral legislation that provides a significant boost for the future of nuclear energy here in America. After a lot of hard work and negotiations, I am thrilled to be on the floor today as we are on the cusp of getting this bill across the finish line.
I see Senator Whitehouse here, my friend from Rhode Island. He was very integral in making this happen today, so I thank him.
In March of 2023, we introduced the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act, or what we call the ADVANCE Act. We did so because Republicans and Democrats recognize that the development of new nuclear technologies is critical to America's energy security and our environment.
Today, nuclear power provides about 20 percent of our Nation's electricity. Importantly, it is emissions-free electricity that is 24/ 7, 365 days a year.
Not only is it necessary to continue developing and deploying more nuclear energy reactors from an energy and environmental standpoint, it is also vital to our national security, and it is good for the economy.
So it was important for us as lawmakers to prepare to meet the increased demand--it is predicted to be twice the demand--with policies that encourage investment and deployment of nuclear technologies right here on our shores. The ADVANCE Act does just that and preserves the United States as the destination for innovation and expansion, ensuring that we are what we should be, which is the global leader, for decades to come.
Here are just a few of the ways our bill benefits America's energy, economic, and environmental future:
The ADVANCE Act reduces regulatory costs for companies seeking to license advanced reactor technologies.
It requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish a regulatory roadmap to license new nuclear facilities on brownfield sites--something that would be very important to my State of West Virginia.
It directs the NRC to update its mission statement to reflect the beneficial uses of nuclear technology and establish a licensing structure to support an efficient, timely, and predictable regulatory review.
It establishes an initiative to more quickly license advanced nuclear fuels that are both safer and more economic.
It provides the NRC new tools to hire and retain highly qualified staff to enable the licensing of advanced reactors.
As I said, I am proud of the work we put into this legislation over the past few months and years. With the House having already passed it overwhelmingly, I am excited that we are on the verge of sending the ADVANCE Act to the President's desk.
I want to thank Chairman Carper, and I thank Senator Whitehouse, who are my--the three of us--cosponsors. I want to thank House Energy and Commerce Chair McMorris Rodgers and Ranking Member Pallone. I would like to thank House Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Duncan and Ranking Member Diana DeGette and all of our cosponsors for their hard work and support.
I also want to sincerely thank the staff members who have put so much work into this to help us get to this point today. This has been a journey. From my team at EPW, I would like to thank Andy Zach, Will Dixon, and Maddie Blalock; from Chairman Carper's team, Matt Marzano and Courtney Taylor; and from Senator Whitehouse's team, Kara Allen.
With that, I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan legislation.
S. 870
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