[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 92 (Monday, June 1, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE SUBMARINE 1ST GENERATION WESTINGHOUSE PROTOTYPE

 Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise with my colleagues Senator 
Mike Crapo and Representative  Mike Simpson to recognize the 
significance of the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse, also known 
as the S1W prototype plant, and commend the crews who safely demolished 
it.
  Created under the leadership of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, the Father 
of the Nuclear Navy, the S1W has stood as a symbol of American 
innovation, scientific achievement, and national determination for 
decades. Constructed at what is now the Idaho National Laboratory in 
1951, S1W became the Nation's first land-based nuclear submarine 
prototype and inspired a new era of naval power.
  The scientists, engineers, and operators who worked on the S1W later 
went on to develop the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered 
submarine, and contributed to technologies that have fueled American 
naval dominance for generations.
  Over S1W's 35 years of operation, more than 12,500 U.S. Navy and 
civilian personnel were trained at the site, laying the foundation for 
a highly skilled nuclear workforce that remains critical to our 
national security today.
  Over the past 3 years, the Idaho Environmental Coalition has 
diligently and successfully dismantled this historic facility. 
Throughout the demolition, IEC crews demonstrated the same spirit of 
innovation by those who built the S1W, implementing creative solutions 
to complete the project ahead of schedule and millions of dollars under 
budget.
  Today, we honor the legacy of the S1W, the crews who safely 
demolished it, and the undeniable future of nuclear innovation in 
America.

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