Next, a hearing examines options for temporary and permanent Nuclear Waste storage. Lawmakers considered legislation and the future of the Yucca Mountain site in nevada. Held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, this is about two hours. Good morning, everyone. The committee will come to order. Were meeting to examine an issue that weve been at a stalemate for for quite some time. What we should do with the used nuclear fuel that is accumulating at our Nations Nuclear reactors. As a starting point, i think we should recognize that Nuclear Energy is an important part of our countrys electric generation. I believe it is a vital part of our mix. The large reactionors that dot the landscape provide Reliable Energy across our country. Our Nations Nuclear energy is critically important but it faces challenges and one that has impacted it since the first reactors began operation. The Nuclear Waste disposition. Beginning with the passage of the Nuclear Waste policy act in 1982,
Lawmakers will vote on the deal by the house. Now live to the u. S. Senate here on cspan2. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Black, will open the senate with prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal god, who laid the foundation of the earth, the heavens are the work of your hands. You are the same yesterday, today and forever, and your years have no end. Today, use our senators as they serve you with gladness and awe. May they make pleasing you their first priority. Lord, give them your guidance so that they will behave wisely striving to have a conscience void of offense toward you and humanity. May they never forget all your blessings and benefits. We pray in your loving name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The presiding offic
And have mercy upon our nation. May our lawmakers work to do your will, remembering that you have set apart the godly for yourself. Provide our senators a refuge in you, enabling them to shout for joy, blessed by your righteousness and favor. Continue to supply their needs, teaching them how to abound and abase. Lord, keep us all from slipping, presenting us one day before your throne with great joy. We pray in your majestic name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Grassley madam president . The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley july 20 marks the 50 years since Neil Armstrong took one small step for man and for the first time in Human History walked on the moon. The Apollo Missions should be remembered for generations to come as a triumph for innovat
Increase water storage and conservation in western states with Brenda Berman and water resource efforts from colorado, idaho and arizona. This is about an hour. The hearing of the Senate Energy Natural Resources soouks will come to order. I want to apologize for being tardy. Im trying to be in a few places at once. Thanks for your patience. Throughout the rest, water is essential to everything we do. The infrastructure took centuries to build. Without these dams and canals and reclaim water plants the American West would not be the worldwide destination that it is today. It has taken tremendous foresight. They have been great investments. In my home state in arizona, what started as a 10 million federal investment which now contributes 250 billion to the nation. Earlier i toured all 15 counties in arizona. I saw forehand how these Major Investments shaped the state. From hoover dam, salt river praur project, federal investment in these projects is therefore critical. When i visited in
I call this hearing to order. Todays hearing is about the need for this committee to draft and to pass a bipartisan Highway Infrastructure bill. Both Ranking Member carpers staff and my staff have been working on drafting this legislation along with all of the members of this committee. We appreciate all the input we received from our home states, from our fellow members and from transportation stakeholders. Its our shared goal to advance a bill out of the committee this summer. That means the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will be first out of the gate to pass a Highway Infrastructure bill. This is appropriate given the history of bipartisan efforts to pass previous surface as far as surface transportation bills. Chef crumbling roads and bridges and they need to replaced. Projected population growth and existing congestion require states to build new capacity to meet future needs. Our economy is built upon a well functioning road system that allows products from rural a