Click here to watch Ranking Member Capito’s opening remarks from today’s NRC oversight hearing.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held an oversight hearing on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Prior to the hearing, the committee held a business meeting to consider several nominees for positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, as well as legislation to rename two federal buildings—one of which is located in Wheeling, W.Va.—and four General Services Administration (GSA) resolutions.
Below is the hearing opening statement of Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), as prepared for delivery. Click here to watch her opening statement for the business meeting portion.
“Thank you, Chairman Carper, and I thank the witnesses for coming before us today and for your service.
“This hearing is taking place at a critical time.
“Energy prices continue to rise as the weather turns colder and families need to heat their homes.
“My constituents are paying more at the pump to take their kids to school and to get to their jobs.
“Higher energy prices are driving inflation, and make no mistake: This is a hidden tax on our hardworking families.
“Despite this reality, the Democratic game plan is to push more policies that will worsen this situation.
“Unaccountable White House staff, led by Climate Czar Gina McCarthy, are developing and implementing an extreme environmental agenda.
“President Biden’s administration is taking drastic steps that will hurt energy affordability and electric reliability.
“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pursuing regulations to limit production of American energy.
“EPA Administrator Michael Regan has stated that he is going to ‘push the envelope’ in exercising the agency’s regulatory authority.
“It seems this reckless tax-and-spending spree would increase energy costs on American families and businesses.
“It would harm our competitiveness.
“It would reduce reliability of our energy system.
“It’s just a bad deal.
“It would raise energy prices through a natural gas tax administered by EPA at the same time as EPA issues new regulations.
“These policies will raise energy costs and undermine baseload electric generation, threatening families and businesses with more frequent and wholly preventable blackouts.
“Instead of pursuing policies that will accelerate inflation and undermine our grid, we should advance the solutions that we’re going to hear about today that will reduce costs and increase reliability, all while improving the environment.
“This means pursuing all clean energy sources, including carbon capture, natural gas, and nuclear.
“The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) enables the safe use of nuclear energy in the United States.
“It is instrumental to ensure public confidence.
“That public confidence is strengthened when the commission operates as it was intended.
“Congress established the commission as a five-member body. It functions most effectively with a full slate of members.
“The commission is currently operating with just three members who we have with us here today.
“In March, Chairman Carper and I wrote to President Biden asking that he promptly put forth a bipartisan pairing of qualified nominees—one Democrat and one Republican.
“The president has yet to do so.
“A full slate of commissioners should be in place to make critical decisions for how new nuclear technologies are licensed, regulated, and operated.
“In 2018, Congress passed the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act, which I cosponsored, with overwhelming bipartisan support.
“That law, which was a product of this committee, requires the NRC to develop safety rules for the next generation of advanced nuclear technologies.
“This past May, I wrote to NRC Chairman Hanson to applaud the commission and its staff for their diligent work so far on those rules.
“Our innovators need safety rules that are both predictable and flexible.
“Nuclear engineers and entrepreneurs who are investing time and money to develop new reactor designs need a useable rule.
“I look forward to receiving an update on the rulemaking, as well as other related advanced nuclear initiatives.
“The commission is looking to update existing policies for new and emerging technologies to guide review of applications submitted before the rulemaking is complete.
“In addition to setting the stage for new nuclear technologies, the commission should modernize its policies to allow for today’s reactors to focus on the most important safety issues.
“In 2019, the NRC Staff proposed recommendations to the commission for commonsense changes to what is known as the Reactor Oversight Process, the regulations that guide the oversight and inspection rules for operating nuclear power plants.
“I joined seven of my colleagues in asking the commission to support these proposals, which were based on a thorough analysis and review of historical data.
“I am disappointed the commission did not act.
“The staff is now, to my understanding, reworking its proposals.
“While the commission reviews its policies to ensure the safe operation of nuclear power plants, Congress can build on previous bipartisan laws—like the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act—to secure the future of our nation’s nuclear energy sector.
“In July, I introduced the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act to preserve and expand our use of nuclear energy.
“Joining me on the bipartisan legislation are six cosponsors, including Senator Whitehouse and Senator Graham on this committee.
“Last year, the EPW Committee passed the bill with strong bipartisan vote of 16-5.
“Chairman Carper and Senator Cardin voted in favor of the bill.
“I look forward to working with Chairman Carper to advance this legislation again this Congress to ensure Americans have access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy.
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.”
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