April 29, 2010

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"Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced two bills designed to incentivize Small Modular Reactors - one of the most promising areas in the future of nuclear power.  One-third the size of today’s plants, small reactors are cheaper and may take half the time to build.  These reactors offer more siting options and may provide additional safety benefits.

"The Nuclear Power 2021 Act is modeled for Small Reactors after the successful Nuclear Power 2010 program. The Nuclear Energy Research Initiative Improvement Act requires the Department of Energy to develop a strategy to lower the cost of constructing and licensing nuclear reactors, including small reactors.

"In seeking a bipartisan solution, I introduced these pieces of legislation working in concert with Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Joe Barton and a bipartisan group of 19 other members. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to expediently bring small reactors to the market."