[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 83 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H4975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                      LICENSE NEW NUCLEAR REACTORS

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, President Biden's assault on domestic 
energy production isn't limited to just gas and oil. A new report 
revealed that a quarter of nuclear power plants in the U.S. are at risk 
of closure in just a few years, raising already high energy costs to 
struggling families across the country.
  Despite being carbon-free, which my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle love to talk about carbon even though it represents only 0.04 
percent of the gases in our atmosphere--let's play along.
  Nuclear reactors make zero CO2, so why are we making it so 
difficult to put in place--indeed, only one nuclear reactor has started 
construction in the U.S. in the last three decades. Since 2013, 12 
reactors have closed, so none new have opened.
  Why are they making it so difficult to re-license existing plants or 
license new ones?
  Yes, we want to build in a strong safety factor. Why does it have to 
cost hundreds of millions of dollars or more to do the job to keep a 
CO2-free--0.04 percent of our atmosphere--keep that 
CO2 down, keep these plants operating, and keep our homes 
lit up.

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