Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Chairman, my amendment makes good on President Trump's executive order to supercharge U.S. energy dominance by harnessing advanced nuclear technologies.

In the heart of west Texas, at Abilene Christian University, we are building a first-of-its-kind molten salt research reactor, a game changer, no doubt, for making nuclear energy safer, more efficient, and deployable.

This project, Mr. Chair, isn't just pie in the sky. It has generated over $110 million in private investment, $112 million from the State of Texas, and just last month, thanks to the leadership and vision of Secretary Chris Wright, has received a conditional commitment from DOE to provide its fuel.

This is the only molten salt reactor to ever receive a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the first research reactor to receive an NRC construction permit in over 30 years. All that is needed now for this reactor to become operational is for the Federal Government to do what it has always done for every research reactor in the country for decades, which is to provide the fuel at no cost to the university. That is to those reactors that have met those stringent requirements.

Mr. Chair, this advanced nuclear technology is the best chance for America to beat China in the very important nuclear power race and secure our Nation's future energy security.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

God bless west Texas, and go Wildcats.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source