[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 83 (Monday, May 4, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of Robert J. Feitel

  Mr. President, having said that, let me turn again to the nomination 
before the Senate today. Like all agencies, the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission needs a strong and independent inspector general, and I 
believe in Mr. Feitel we have one. I believe he is up to the task.
  We cannot be complacent when it comes to nuclear safety. Just 
remember, 50 percent of the carbon-free energy produced in this country 
is produced by our nuclear powerplants. Think about that. In a day and 
age when the climate crisis is a huge threat literally to our planet 
and those of us who live on it, right now, half of the carbon-free 
electricity comes in this country from nuclear powerplants.
  It is the job of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to oversee those 
plants and make sure they are being run well, run safely, and in ways 
that enable us to continue to depend on them as we go forward for 
carbon-free electricity.
  Anyway, Mr. Feitel is well qualified and prepared, I think; certainly 
the Environment and Public Works Committee believes he is prepared to 
take on this responsibility. I hope my colleagues will join Senator 
Barrasso, our chairman, and myself and the members of our committee to 
vote yes on this nomination.
  With that, I don't see anybody waiting to speak after me, so I 
suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.