WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the following statement on the Department of Commerce’s preliminary deal to limit Russian uranium imports through 2040. The Department of Commerce previously found the Russian Federation was undercutting the uranium market, which harms America’s uranium producers.

“The Trump administration is taking a critical step to reduce imports of Russian uranium,” said Barrasso. “Russia continues to undercut Wyoming’s uranium producers by flooding the market with cheap nuclear fuel. It’s a threat to both our energy and national security. Immediately establishing and funding a national uranium reserve is also essential to preserve America’s uranium production. Doing so will assure that we can power America’s nuclear reactors with American fuel for decades to come. I will continue to lead efforts to put this agreement into law so Russia cannot walk away from the deal.”

Background Information:

On May 20, 2020, Barrasso and Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mike Braun (R-IN), Tom Udall (D-NM), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) sent a letter to Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Kessler calling on the department to extend the Russian Suspension Agreement (RSA), as recommended by the Nuclear Fuel Working Group (NFWG).

On April 23, 2020, Barrasso issued a statement on the release of the Trump administration’s report titled “Strategy to Restore American Nuclear Energy Leadership.”

On March 4, 2020, EPW held a hearing to discuss the administration’s priorities for America’s nuclear industry.

On March 3, 2020, Barrasso pressed Department of Energy Secretary Brouillette to provide immediate relief for uranium producers and release the overdue Nuclear Fuel Working Group report.

On Sept. 30, 2019, Barrasso and a group of Republican Senators sent a letter to National Economic Council Director and NFWG Co-Chairman Larry Kudlow, calling for NFWG to take bold action and immediate to help America’s uranium producers. Read the letter here.

On July 13, 2019, President Trump established the NFWG following his final decision regarding the Section 232 investigation. The NFWG was tasked with giving recommendations to the president on to reinvigorate domestic nuclear fuel production.

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