Click here to watch Chairman Barrasso’s remarks.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), delivered the following remarks at a committee business meeting on the reappointment of the Honorable Kristine Svinicki, to serve as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Svinicki’s nomination was advanced by the committee by voice vote.

Senator Barrasso’s remarks:

“I applaud the president’s nomination of Ms. Svinicki.

“Ms. Svinicki has served as a member of the NRC for more than 9 years, including the last 6 months as chair.

“The members of the Environment and Public Works Committee know her well.

“She has testified before this committee eighteen times, three times as a nominee.

“In every appearance before us as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory commission, she has proven herself to be a well-qualified, experienced, and dedicated public servant.

“Twice before, members of this committee and of the full Senate have agreed.

“When Ms. Svinicki was first nominated to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, this committee reported her by voice vote in 2007, and the Senate confirmed her by voice vote as well.

“When she was renominated for a second term, reported by voice vote in 2012, confirmed as well by the Senate. 

“President Trump has designated Ms. Svinicki as chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in January 2017. 

“Before joining the NRC, she built a distinguished career in public service in various staff positions in the U.S. Senate, as a nuclear engineer at the Department of Energy, and as an energy engineer for the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.

(The remainder of Chairman Barrasso’s opening statement was submitted for the record)

“In response to Ms. Svinicki’s nomination, Josh Freed, the Vice President of the Clean Energy Program at Third Way, a think tank once labelled as ‘radical centrists’ by the New York Times, stated about the nominee that: ‘Svinicki’s work at the NRC has resulted in improved readiness to regulate small modular and advanced reactors that could provide enormous benefits for climate, American leadership, and domestic job creation. With several advanced reactor developers already engaging the NRC and more on the way, Chairman Svinicki’s continued leadership is needed now more than ever.’

“Unless Ms. Svinicki is confirmed by June 30th, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will lose its quorum. We must not let that happen.

“We must also act to confirm the other two nominees as expeditiously as possible to return the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to a full slate of five commissioners.

“Until then, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s collective ability to fulfill its mission of licensing and regulating the nation’s civilian use of radioactive materials to protect public health, and to provide for safety and security, will be diminished.

“We must act quickly to confirm Ms. Svinicki so that she continues to fill the critically important role of protecting America’s public health and safety.

“I urge all of my colleagues to vote yes on the Svinicki nomination.”

Background Information:

On Tuesday, June 13, Svinicki testified before the EPW Committee on her renomination to the NRC. For full testimony information, click here.

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