Subcommittee on Environment and Economy critiques NRC budget request
The Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy and the Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing on Wednesday to assess a Fiscal Year 2017 budget request submitted by the Nuclear Regulator Commission (NRC).
The organizations oversee NRC operations. During the hearing, NRC members were questioned regarding nuclear power plant operations and staffing and budgetary needs. As part of Project Aim 2020, the NRC is expected to implement cost-saving measures. Despite the goal, committee member Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) reprimanded the organization for signing a $20 million contract for new furniture two days before the end of the last Fiscal Year.
“Nuclear energy is a major contributor to Illinois’ economic well-being and must remain so,” Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy John Shimkus (R-IL) said. “Therefore, the agency’s efforts to right-size the organization and streamline efficiency are of great importance to me and my constituents. As a result, the committee will continue to provide close oversight of the commission to find further opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce the budget. Additionally, I would be remiss if I didn’t express my dissatisfaction that once more the commission failed to include funding to continue consideration of the Yucca Mountain license application. I hope the commission is taking all steps to maintain the necessary expertise and infrastructure to continue consideration of the Yucca Mountain license application.”
Chairman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) also expressed concern with being able to correct the NRC budget overall, given long-term staffing and budgetary issues within the organization.
