[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12591-S12592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NOMINATION OF JEFFREY S. MERRIFIELD

  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today in support of 
Mr. Jeff Merrifield to the position of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commissioner.
  Mr. Merrifield was born in Westerly, Rhode Island and spent most of 
his childhood in Antrim, New Hampshire. In 1985, Jeff graduated Magna 
Cum Laude with his B.A. from Tufts University. In 1986, he joined 
Senator Gordon Humphrey's staff and handled energy and environmental 
issues. I first came to the Senate in 1990 and I was fortunate that 
Jeff was one of several staffers who carried over from Senator 
Humphrey's staff to mine.
  While working for Senator Humphrey and me, Jeff put himself through 
Georgetown Law School. He graduated in 1992 after which he began work 
for the Washington D.C. based law firm of McKenna and Cuneo. There, he 
practiced environmental and government contracts law until 1995. I was 
very pleased to have Jeff returned to my staff in 1995 to be my counsel 
for the Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Control and Risk 
Assessment. He was the lead staffer in developing my Superfund 
reauthorization legislation.
  During his time with the Senate, Jeff has been involved with all 
aspects of solid and hazardous waste disposal and cleanup regulation. 
He took part in a number of bills including the Price Anderson 
reauthorization, the Oil Pollution Control Act, the Clean Air Act 
reauthorization, efforts to reauthorize both Superfund and RCRA, and 
the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act (ISTEA I).
  In addition to his duties on the Committee, Jeff has also been 
extensively

[[Page S12592]]

involved in assisting me on the Armed Services Subcommittee on 
Strategic Forces, which I chair. He has provided me with valuable 
oversight of hazardous and radiological waste programs at DOD and DOE 
facilities.
  Jeff's philosophy as Commissioner will be that the NRC cannot take a 
solitary role in maintaining full public confidence in the safety of 
nuclear power. He has said that the nuclear industry must also assume 
equal responsibility for taking the steps necessary to maintain the 
trust of the American public.
  Mr. President, Jeff has done a great job for me over the years. 
Although I'm sorry to lose him from my staff, I'm confident that he 
will provide the NRC with the talents necessary to ensure adequate 
protection of the public health and safety, the common defense and 
security, and the environment in the use of nuclear materials in the 
United States. Jeff is a bright, dedicated and articulate individual 
who will serve the nation with distinction. I strongly recommend him 
for the position of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner and urge my 
colleagues to do the same. Thank you, Mr. President.

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