NEWS RELEASE

Nuclear Waste Reform Bill Advances Through 40-6 Bipartisan Action By House Commerce Committee

WASHINGTON—The following is a statement by Nuclear Energy Institute Vice President John Kane in response to today's 40-6 vote in favor of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999 (H.R. 45) by the House Commerce Committee.

"Congress took an important, bipartisan step today to fix the federal government's nuclear waste management program. The legislation approved overwhelmingly by the House Commerce Committee goes a considerable way toward meeting the government's responsibility to safely manage and isolate used fuel from the commercial nuclear power plants that provide one-fifth of our nation's electricity. We applaud the bipartisan approach that members took in dealing with this difficult issue.

"As this legislation advances to the next stage in the process, the industry will look to work with members and staff on continued refinements, some of which were raised today. The industry thanks Chairman Bliley and Congressmen (Joe) Barton, (John) Dingell and (Ralph) Hall, in particular, for their leadership in addressing one of the nation's foremost environmental priorities."