Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 3183, Energy And Water Development And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. WAMP. I just want to add to the gentleman's comments on this important issue of nuclear and its absence, really, in any impactful way in the legislation that comes before the House today.

Our country built its first 100 nuclear reactors in less than 20 years. Today, we know so much more about this particular industry. We are so much more technologically advanced. Without question, we could build a hundred nuclear reactors in the next 20 years, and we would lead the world in this particular energy technology again.

And it's troubling because, like the gentleman, I've been all over the world and all of these other countries look back and say, Why wouldn't the United States, like Japan and like France, take a lead on nuclear again so that they can show leadership on the reduction of carbon and this issue of climate change? That's the logical big step that we could take as a Nation. Yet many of the people who oppose coal in this body also oppose nuclear, and you cannot possibly achieve their own stated goals without it.

And we could do this. Talking about jobs and a stimulus, that should be step one, is a bold nuclear agenda where we reprocess the spent fuel, turn 80 percent of it back into energy, and lead the world in the energy technology opportunities and industry in the world. The best chance for success is nuclear, yet it's not advanced near enough in this legislation.

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