Kenneth Fletcher
WC Monitor
12/12/2014
With Congressional Nuclear Cleanup Caucus Chairman Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) set to retire next month, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) this week announced that he will be leading the group. The caucus is comprised of lawmakers with Department of Energy cleanup sites in their districts, and Fleischmann said he is looking to expand the group. “One of the things I want to do with the caucus is facilitate nuclear cleanup nationwide. Obviously we have a very strong interest in it across our complex,” Fleischmann said this week at a press conference. He added: “We are going to let it grow over time and I am solicitous of the input of our members. I really want to make sure that it becomes an active, aggressive caucus because it is so important to get this done.”
Hastings formed a task force on nuclear cleanup in the 1990s along with fellow former Reps. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) that eventually grew into the nuclear cleanup caucus. The caucus has held regular public briefings in the spring with DOE officials from across the cleanup complex. Hastings declined to comment this week, citing a desire for focus on members in the new Congress who will represent cleanup sites.
At this week’s announcement, Fleischmann emphasized that he was “passionate” about the topic and is looking for feedback from other members on how to move the group forward. “The purpose of the caucus is to facilitate nuclear cleanup and move it forward. Budgets are tight, particularly on the discretionary side,” he said. “The key is going to be to make sure that those across Congress who may not be as informed of what we do, to be sure to get that message out to explain to the American people that we engage in nuclear cleanup.”
EM’s Whitney: DOE ‘Very Supportive’ of Caucus
Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management Mark Whitney joined Fleischmann at this week’s press conference, emphasizing the importance of the caucus. “One, it’s an opportunity for us during the annual briefings that we provide to really talk about the program and talk about some of the challenges we are facing and provide updates, progress of different issues across the complex,” Whitney said. “So we’re very supportive of this and appreciative for the focus that the Congress and Congressman Fleischmann has taken in the program. I want to also thank Congressman Hastings for his leadership, his stalwart support and for being a champion for the program, understanding issues and really trying to help move the program forward. He also understood how important the program was to our community and constituents.”
