Chairman Barton, Ranking Member Boucher and distinguished members of the subcommittee.

On behalf of NEI, I commend you for focusing the 108th Congress today on legislation to implement comprehensive national energy policy.

The committee is to be commended for its leadership last year in supporting the president’s decision on the Yucca Mountain repository site—a tremendous step forward in energy policy matters.

Today I will discuss a few key points related to the proposed energy legislation . . . but I would be remiss if I did not first comment on the security and readiness of our nuclear power plants, because it is a concern to many.

The nuclear industry had extensive and robust security prior to the tragic events of September 11. Since then, the NRC has imposed additional requirements. And during the past 18 months, the nuclear industry has invested an additional $370 million in security-related improvements—including hiring about one-third more security officers, bringing the total to about 7,000. 

In addition to the NRC actions, a recent independent study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies recognized the effectiveness of nuclear plant security—and acknowledged our plants as the best-protected industrial facilities in the country.