The Highland County Press - Full Piketon Funding Passes the House of Representatives

By Unknown

The Energy and Water Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2016, which contains funding for ongoing projects at the Piketon facility, passed the U.S. House of Representatives Friday with bipartisan support.

The House legislation significantly increases funding levels from the President's initial budget request for cleanup operations, passing totals of $213 million for the Decontamination and Decommissioning cleanup project and $100 million for the American Centrifuge Project.

Southern Ohio Congressmen Brad Wenstrup (OH-2) and Bill Johnson (OH-6), both advocates for the increased funding levels to continue the projects without interruption, hailed the final passage as positive news for the region.

"This is a big step for these projects," Wenstrup said. "Because of the early and aggressive efforts to highlight the important work being done at Piketon, the House was able to secure full funding levels very early in the appropriations process. The government has an obligation to the region, and I will continue to fight for the people of southern Ohio."

"The Energy and Water Appropriations bill that passed the House today is good news for Southern Ohio," Johnson said. "The bill contains important funding for both the ongoing cleanup operations at the Piketon facility, and funding to ensure that the American Centrifuge Project continues to move forward. Congressman Wenstrup and I will continue to push hard to make sure that these important projects receive sufficient funding."

This week's votes marked the earliest the House of Representatives has started the annual appropriations process to fund the government since 1974. The U.S. Senate has yet to release legislation or funding levels for the projects.

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