[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S2194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Kristine Svinicki

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to express my great pleasure 
with the Senate confirmation of Kristine Svinicki to serve as a 
Commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
  As you may know, Ms. Svinicki is both a longtime resident of my 
State, and a staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which 
I have had the privilege to serve on for over 28 years.
  During her time with the Senate Armed Services Committee, Ms. 
Svinicki served with distinction, immersing herself in nuclear energy 
matters. Her tireless efforts proved invaluable in our committee's 
work, and her service has been appreciated by not only me but by the 
other members of the Armed Services Committee--on both sides of the 
aisle.
  It is not well known in some quarters, but the Armed Services 
Committee has jurisdiction over approximately two-thirds of the 
Department of Energy--including the very sizable nuclear weapons 
production sites and laboratory complex, as well as the extensive 
environmental program to clean up the legacy of nuclear contamination 
created during the Cold War. These are the programs which I hired 
Kristine to staff.
  With her extensive background and experience in nuclear matters both 
at the Department of Energy, where she worked prior to joining the 
Armed Services Committee, and subsequently in her work here in the 
Senate, Ms. Svinicki is uniquely poised to take on this next challenge.
  It is my sincere belief that Kristine Svinicki will be a favorable 
addition to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and I am pleased the 
full Senate agrees. I appreciate the overwhelming support given to her 
by this body, and I know she will do all in her power to honor the 
trust placed in her by the President, the Senate, and the American 
people.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, these have been approved; is that right?
  Mr. BROWN. They have been.
  Mr. REID. I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that 
motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, just to show that we are trying to work with 
the President's Chief of Staff, as I indicated earlier, we put this in. 
Even though it wasn't part of the original agreement I had with Mr. 
Bolten, we added Doug Shuma, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue 
Service--I am looking for Mr. Sullivan--and John J. Sullivan, Deputy 
Secretary of Commerce. So we have worked hard to live up to our end of 
the bargain. I hope when we come back after the break, we can do more. 
I have indicated to the distinguished Republican leader and to Mr. 
Bolton, if things work out right and we are able to work together, 
there should be some judges we can approve when we come back.

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