Rothfus Defends Nuclear Power Plants on House Floor and Supports Safe Industry Reforms

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Keith Rothfus (PA-12) spoke in support of H.R. 3053, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act, which passed the House earlier today. This bill provides common sense reforms to the nation’s nuclear waste management policy and establishes Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a permanent nuclear repository site so that nuclear waste will no longer sit idle across the country, including Western Pennsylvania. The Congressman also advocated that regional and nationwide fuel-secure power plants remain open.

Congressman Rothfus takes to the House Floor to support safe reforms to the nuclear plant industry and advocate to keep America’s fuel-secure power plants on line.

“In April, I met with Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station workers and I told my constituents that I would do everything I can to protect their jobs and the nation’s grid. And I meant it.”

Watch the Congressman’s full floor speech HERE .

Remarks:

“Thank you to my colleague, Chairman Shimkus, for his leadership.

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act. The bill is an opportunity to give the Department of Defense and our nation’s nuclear plants a proper place to store spent fuel.

“It also relieves burdens on our nuclear plants, which provide a critical source of resilient baseload power to our electric grid. Furthermore, nuclear plants provide good jobs to communities across the nation, many of which are in economically distressed areas.

“Unfortunately, several nuclear power plants are prematurely closing because of government policies. For a long time, I have repeatedly warned the executive branch about the national security risks if too many plants deactivate, and I’m glad to hear some members across the aisle are actually acknowledging this problem, at least partially.

In April, I met with Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station workers and I told my constituents that I would do everything I can to protect their jobs and the nation’s grid. And I meant it.

“This bill addresses some of the uncertainty and added costs the industry faces and it is one step in helping to secure those jobs and the reliability and resiliency of our grid.

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.”