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 on the Senate floor, on the need to confirm Kristine Svinicki to continue serving as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Svinicki was designated as the NRC chair in January, and will remain in that role following her confirmation.

Senator Barrasso’s remarks:

“Mr. President, I come to the floor today to speak in support of President Trump’s nomination of Kristine Svinicki to continue serving as a nuclear safety regulator.

“Ms. Svinicki has served as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for more than 9 years.

“In January, President Trump designated Ms. Svinicki as the chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. She is well qualified.

“In her time in office, she has proven to be knowledgeable, dedicated, and an outstanding public servant.

“She has also been very responsive to Congress.

“Since becoming a commissioner, she has testified 18 times before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

“Before becoming a member of the NRC, she served as staff in the United States Senate, as a nuclear engineer at the Department of Energy, and as an energy engineer for the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.

“She has been confirmed to serve on the NRC twice already.

“In both 2008 and 2012, her nomination was approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee and by the full Senate. Each time by voice vote.

“Earlier this month, the Environment and Public Works Committee approved her nomination for a third time, again by voice vote.

“Her nomination has garnered support from groups like Third Way, which is a think tank once labelled as ‘radical centrists’ by the New York Times.

“Josh Freed, the vice president of the Clean Energy Program at Third Way, said this: ‘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.’

“He went on to say that ‘Chairman Svinicki’s continued leadership (at the NRC) is needed now more than ever.’

“The Senate must act quickly to confirm Ms. Svinicki.

“Unless she is confirmed by June 30th, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will no longer have a quorum of its members.

“We can’t let that happen.

“The NRC has an important mission of regulating America’s nuclear industry.

“The commission serves to protect public health and the environment.

“The Nuclear Regulatory Commission needs a quorum of its members in office to meet its mission.

“We need to confirm Kristine Svinicki.

“I urge all Senators to vote yes on her nomination.”

Background Information:

On June 13, 2017, Svinicki testified before the EPW Committee on her renomination to the NRC. For full testimony information, click here.

On June 15, 2017, Svinicki’s nomination was advanced by the EPW Committee, by voice vote.

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