[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H5588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CERTIFY YUCCA MOUNTAIN AS PERMANENT NUCLEAR WASTE DEPOSITORY

  (Mr. PAULSEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, nuclear power is an environmentally 
friendly way to meet our energy needs. Fortunately, we have a safe and 
ready option for permanent storage for the waste generated by this 
clean power at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.
  But despite the fact that energy ratepayers in my State have 
contributed over $375 million to the Nuclear Waste Fund, the Federal 
Government has refused to keep its end of the bargain and store the 
nuclear waste.
  Nationwide, this fund has now collected over $350 billion in fees and 
interest since its inception. Minnesotans and all Americans should not 
have to pay for government inaction.
  I have introduced legislation that would require the President to 
certify Yucca Mountain as a permanent nuclear waste depository; and if 
it's not certified, the bill would return billions of dollars from the 
Nuclear Waste Fund to ratepayers across the country.
  Madam Speaker, let's quickly pass the Rebating America's Deposits 
Act.

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