[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 112 (Friday, July 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1387]]



PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3816, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3816) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. WAMP. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered 
by the gentlemen from Wisconsin to eliminate funding for the Department 
of Energy's [DOE] Advanced Light Water Reactor [ALWR] program. The 
fiscal year 1997 House energy and water development appropriations bill 
provides $17 million for this program, which will conclude the Federal 
Government's participation in the development of the ALWR.
  This program is a joint DOE-nuclear industry program with the 
industry contributing more than 50 percent in matching funds. Although 
I opposed funding for the ALWR last year, it has become apparent to me 
that this program represents our Nation's last hope of building the 
most technologically advanced nuclear reactors. More importantly, I 
have learned that termination costs built into the contract create a 
potential liability far exceeding the $17 million provided for in this 
appropriations bill. Therefore, it will be more expensive to terminate 
this project under the Obey amendment than to let the authorization 
expire. It should also be noted that the Federal Government will 
receive royalties from the sale of these newly designed reactors.
  It is well known that our Nation's growing dependence on imported 
oil--particularly from the Middle East--poses a serious threat to our 
national security. I firmly believe we must maintain a strong Federal 
commitment to researching alternative fuel sources. As the world 
becomes more dangerous and less stable, it is all the more important 
that we reduce our dependence on foreign sources of fuel to meet our 
energy needs.
  Mr. Chairman, for these reasons and others I have decided to cast my 
vote against the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin, and 
I urge my colleagues to defeat the Obey amendment.

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