House Committee Approves Legislation Designed to Protect Paducah Jobs

Press Release

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell praised Congressman Ed Whitfield Wednesday following approval by the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power on the "Energy and Revenue Enrichment Act." The original legislation, introduced by Senators McConnell and Rand Paul and Congressman Whitfield, gives the Department of Energy the flexibility it needs to temporarily re-enrich tails at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.

"Chairman Whitfield remains focused on helping the workers at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, and I applaud him for his efforts," Senator McConnell said. "This legislation is not only important to the workers at the facility, but also to the future of Paducah's economy. I will continue to work with Congressman Whitfield and Senator Paul to ensure the community is protected."

NOTE: On May 26, 2011, Senators McConnell and Paul and Congressman Whitfield introduced the legislation. At that time, Senator McConnell said: "There is potential for some of the 40,000 cylinders of depleted uranium at the government-owned facility in Paducah to be re-enriched to make a profit for the government. Without action from the Department of Energy to approve this additional enrichment work, Paducah's economy is at serious risk. [Recently], during a Senate Committee hearing, I raised this critical concern with Secretary of Energy Chu, however, the Department did not have an answer as to what it planned to do to meet its responsibilities to Paducah. Therefore, Congressman Whitfield, Senator Paul and I are taking steps on behalf of the workers, the City of Paducah, and western Kentucky to assist DOE in creating a plan to make the government money while saving Kentucky jobs."

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