Lawmakers call for inclusion of nuclear in defense billNuclear NewsPower & OperationsJune 26, 2020, 11:09AM|Nuclear News StaffMurkowskiBookerA bipartisan group of 20 senators sent a letter last week to Sens. James Inhofe (R., Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Jack Reed (D., R.I.), the committee’s ranking member, urging the inclusion of S. 903, the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA), in S. 4049, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The letter was spearheaded by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Cory Booker, (D., N.J.). Murkowski and Booker introduced NELA on September 6, 2018 (NN, Oct. 2018, p. 39).The Senate voted 90–7 on June 24 to begin debate on the nation’s annual defense bill, one of the few pieces of major legislation passed by Congress every year. Inhofe said he would “make every effort” to pass the $740-billion measure before the chamber adjourns for the Fourth of July holiday, but offered no guarantee.From the letter: "Nuclear energy provides many benefits, from zero-emission power to high reliability and energy security, but its contribution to national security is often underappreciated. The Atlantic Council recently estimated nuclear energy’s annual contribution to U.S. national security to be $42 billion. Civilian nuclear energy benefits the Department of Defense through a shared source of human capital, supply chains, and technology development with the Navy. Commercial nuclear power provides long-term, high-paying career stability for Navy veterans, while civilian nuclear energy also provides a high-quality nuclear engineering workforce for the Navy.”The letter added, “NELA will enable a new generation of advanced nuclear energy technologies to reinvigorate U.S. nuclear leadership. It will enable a future for the U.S. nuclear energy industry by investing in advanced nuclear technology demonstrations, research and development infrastructure, fuel security, and workforce development. NELA passed the Energy and Natural Resources Committee by voice vote and has broad stakeholder support.”Senate supporters: Signatories to the letter, in addition to Murkowski and Booker, include Sens. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.), Martin Heinrich (D., N.M.), Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), Doug Jones (D., Ala.), Tammy Duckworth (D., Ill.), Mike Crapo (R., Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), Lamar Alexander (R., Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D., Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.), John Barrasso (R., Wyo.), Mark Warner (D., Va.), Jim Risch (R., Idaho), Chris Coons (D., Del.), Rob Portman (R., Ohio), Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.), and Bill Cassidy (R., La.).Tags:bookermurkowskinelarischShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Nuclear infrastructure bill moves forward in SenateThe American Nuclear Infrastructure Act (ANIA)—a bipartisan bill introduced just over two weeks ago in the Senate, with the goal of reestablishing U.S. leadership in nuclear energy—is now headed for the Senate floor. The legislation was advanced at a December 2 business meeting of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee by a vote of 16 to 5. Go to Article
Senate bill introduced to reestablish U.S. leadership in nuclear energyBarrassoWhitehouseThe American Nuclear Infrastructure Act (ANIA), S. 4897, released as draft legislation in July and supported by a panel of energy experts at a Senate hearing in August, has been introduced in the Senate.The bipartisan bill—sponsored by Sen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and cosponsored by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.), Mike Crapo (R., Idaho), and Cory Booker (D., N.J.)—was introduced on November 16.Go to Article
Nuclear champions make another push for NELAMurkowskiLuriaSen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Rep. Elaine Luria (D., Va.), along with 29 of their colleagues, sent a letter last week to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, urging them to include the text of the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA) in the final fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).Murkowski joined Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.) and 18 other lawmakers in a similar letter to the Senate Armed Service Committee earlier this year. Murkowski and Booker introduced NELA on September 6, 2018 (NN, Oct. 2018, p. 39).The House and Senate passed their respective versions of the NDAA in July, by votes of 295–125 and 86–14, respectively. (NELA provisions have been included in the Senate’s NDAA and in the House’s Clean Economy and Jobs Innovation Act.) Last month, speaking at the 2020 Defense News Conference, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R., Texas), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said that the final House and Senate conference report on the NDAA should be coming out soon after the November election.Go to Article
Legislation to reduce Russian uranium imports introduced in SenateSens. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.) and Martin Heinrich (D., N.M.) on September 24 introduced S. 4694, the Russian Suspension Agreement Extension Act of 2020, designed to extend and expand limits on Russian uranium imports. The legislation—cosponsored by Sens. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.), Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), and Jim Risch (R., Idaho)—has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.Go to Article
Advanced nuclear to be a focus of reopened Arctic Energy OfficeThe Department of Energy has announced the reestablishment of the Arctic Energy Office (AEO), to be located on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The AEO was originally established in 2001 but failed to receive sufficient funding. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette had pledged to reopen the office by the close of the current federal fiscal year.The focus of the AEO, according to the DOE, will include international cooperation on Arctic issues, research on methane hydrates, and the development of advanced microgrids and nuclear power systems, such as small modular reactors.Go to Article
Senate passes defense bill with advanced nuclear provisionsIn an 86 to 14 vote, the Senate on July 23 passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, incorporating by amendment S. 903, the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA). The House of Representatives passed its version of the NDAA, which supports $740 billion in funding for national defense, earlier in the week in a less bipartisan manner, 295 to 125. Members of both chambers will now begin negotiations to hammer out a final bill to send to the president—a process that could take months.Go to Article
Menezes confirmed as deputy energy secretaryMenezesIn a bipartisan 79–16 vote, the Senate on August 4 confirmed Mark W. Menezes to be the nation’s deputy secretary of energy. Prior to his confirmation, Menezes had served as undersecretary of energy to both Secretary Dan Brouillette and his predecessor, Rick Perry. An official swearing-in ceremony will take place at a later time.Before joining the Trump administration in 2017, Menezes was an executive with Berkshire Hathaway Energy. He has also worked on Capitol Hill as chief counsel for energy and environment for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he served as chief negotiator for the House majority in the enactment of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.Go to Article
Statement from ANS's Craig Piercy on the Nuclear Energy Leadership ActStatement from American Nuclear Society’s Executive Director/CEO Craig Piercy:Go to Article
Murkowski, Manchin make case for AEIAU.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), the committee’s ranking member, put their rhetorical skills to the test earlier this week as the two urged colleagues to pass the American Energy Innovation Act (AEIA), a comprehensive piece of energy policy legislation introduced by the bipartisan pair in late February (NN, Apr. 2020, p. 14). Go to Article
Bill introduced to protect critical electric infrastructureSens. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) and James Risch (R., Idaho) have introduced legislation to bolster safeguards for U.S. critical electric infrastructure. Dubbed the Energy Infrastructure Protection Act, the bill updates provisions in the Federal Power Act and restricts federal disclosures of certain sensitive energy information.Go to Article