Contact:

Matt Dempsey Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-9797

Katie Brown Katie_Brown@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-2160              

Inhofe Welcomes Committee Passage of NRC Commissioners; Urges Quick Senate Confirmation

Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), welcomed a committee vote in favor of moving the nomination of Commissioner Kristine Svinicki to serve another term at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and urged a quick confirmation vote in the Senate.  The nomination of Dr. Allison Macfarlane to serve on the NRC also moved out of the committee today; Senator Inhofe added that while he still has reservations about her experience, he looks forward to working with her, should she be confirmed in the Senate.  Ms. Svinicki and Dr. Macfarlane's nominations were reported out of committee today on a voice vote.

"I am very pleased that the EPW Committee voted in favor of the nomination of Kristine Svinicki to serve another term as a Commissioner at the NRC," Senator Inhofe said. "This clears the path for her to be confirmed in the Senate before her term expires at the end of June, and I urge Senate leadership to do so as soon as possible to avoid a break in service of such a valuable member of the NRC.  Her experience and her ability to collaborate with her Commission colleagues are essential, especially as the NRC goes through a change in leadership, while continuing its important mission of nuclear safety.

"It was fortunate that the White House took the necessary steps to replace the former NRC Chairman Greg Jaczko immediately after he resigned. It is my hope that Dr. Macfarlane can rectify the crisis of leadership of her predecessor and begin a much more collegial chapter at the NRC.  While I have concerns regarding her lack of management and nuclear safety experience, and her potential pre-conceived notions of spent fuel disposal, I was encouraged that she vowed to see her colleagues as equals, and I look forward to working with her in my role as the Ranking Member of the committee of jurisdiction over the NRC, should she be confirmed by the Senate."

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