Of course, mr. Chairman, todays bill is simply a discussion draft and we will need to hear from the nrc commissioners, themselves, before moving into a legislative process. But i look forward to todays hearing and i look forward to testimony from todays experts of mostly need for the changes outlined in the bill as well as the Practical Implications if these changes were, indeed, enacted. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. Gentleman yields back. This time i recognize mr. Kizinger for five minutes and if some others want some of your time, you might consider yielding. This will be fairly quick. Mr. Chairman, i want to taunk you for holding the hearing. I want to thank each of the witnesses for being here today. Its an important topic. As weve heard, Nuclear Power generates about 20 of electricity in the United States and in illinois its over 50 , including 60 of the nations carbonfree electricity. These plants are high performing, consistently having the highest capacity factors by far in the electricity industry and sedding the Gold Standard for commercial Nuclear Safety worldwide. We have to recognize, however, that while our Nuclear Fleet is strong today, the demand for clean, reliable and affordable energies only increasing. We have an obligation to safely maintain our existing fleet of 99 units and to ensure the nrc continues to regulate efficiently and effectively so investment in plants can continue. The regulatory inefficiency and uncertainty we often see today does nothing to help our existing fleet, does nothing to foster investment in new plants or most importantly to ensure safety and protect Public Health. I want to thank nrc for providing me with technical feedback on this draft which were currently reviewing. I look forward to continuing to work with them throughout this process. Furthermore, i appreciate the interest in my colleagues on this issue addressed in my discussion draft including establishing fair and more equitable nrc fees, streamlining the licensing process and improving the current Regulatory Framework for decommissioning plants. These are all important conversations so that Nuclear Power can continue to provide clean, reliable and Affordable Energy to rate payers in the United States. Again, i welcome this opportunity to discuss how we can maintain our nations position as the Global Leader in civilian Nuclear Power and nrcs position as to the Gold Standard of safety. I think all of us in this room recognize if we cede the position, it will have serious consequences not only for our economy but also for our National Security. With that, mr. Chairman, im happy to yield to anybody who wants my time. Anybody on our side seek additional time . I yield back. Okay. Yields back. This time i recognize the gentleman of california and thank him very much for cosponsoring this legislation as well for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chair. Our nation will by necessity diminish our dependence on fossil fuels in order to fight Climate Change and as we do so, well need to turn more and more to Nuclear Power. Hr4979, the bill my colleague, mr. Latta and i introduced allows the nrc to provide the needed Technical Expertise for emerging technologies. This legislation provides a pathway for the nrc and the d. O. E. To continue collaborating and establishes a Regulatory Framework for consideration of licensing advanced reactors. This will help ensure that as newer, safer technologies are developed that the nrc has the framework in place to review new applications. Mr. Chairman, with unanimous consent, id like to submit three letters. One from the Berkeley Nuclear energying department, one from thirdway, and one from Clean Air Task force into the record. White house objection. And ill yield the balance of my time to my colleague from pennsylvania. And i thank my colleague. I want to thank the chairman and the Ranking Member for holding this important hearing today. To me, nuclear is a critical component of our energy future. We need to work here at this committee to ensure that it remains feasible and safe for our constituents back home by investing in this Incredible Energy source and its technology and making sure its value as carbon free Reliable Base Load Power is properly appreciated. I believe advanced nuclear is key component for maintaining Nuclear Power in the future and will be an integral part of our Energy Portfolio here in the United States. My colleagues congressman and latta and mcnerneys bill takes important steps in that direction. I also want to applaud our colleague, mr. Kizinger, for his discussion draft. I think we share many similar concerns regarding the Nuclear Industry and im optimistic that well be able to find some Common Ground on solutions. Though i couldnt help but notice the acronym for your bill is nucpa which i find somewhat distressing but im certainly encouraged by bringing attention to these issues the puNuclear Industry is facing and i do hope we can Work Together on solutions and by coming up with a different acronym than the one youve chosen. Thank you, i yield back. Gentle lman yields back so that concludes the opening statements. And im going to introduce the witnesses individually before they speak, so first of all we have mr. Marvin fertel. President , chief executive officer for the Nuclear Energy institute. Thanks for being with us. We look forward to your testimo testimony. Youre recognized for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Ranking member rush and members of the subcommittee. On behalf of the commercial Nuclear Energy industry, i want to thank the committee for considering the advanced Nuclear TechnologyDevelopment Act, hr79 4979 and discussion draft of the Nuclear Utilization of keynote Energy Policies act. I am pleased to represent the broad Nuclear Industry, including the owners and operators of Nuclear Power plants and the Supplier Community today. As congressman kizinger said, the Nuclear Energy is the largest and most efficient sources of carbonfree electricity in the United States. Our 99 reactors produced nearly 20 of our nations electricity and approximately 63 of our carbonfree electricity. Nuclear Energy Facilities demonstrate unmatched reliability by operating with an average capacity factor of 92 . Higher than all other electricity sources. And importantly, theyre senchs to t essential to the countrys economy and the communities in which they operate. Despite the significant environmental economic and National Security benefits that Nuclear Energy provides, the current regulatory requirements and licensing processes challenge the industrys ability to build new technologically advanced reactors. The prospect of developing advanced reactors has become both attractive and necessary in the u. S. And abroad. In this country, approximately 126,000 megawatts of generation will be retired over the next 15 years. U. S. Energy Information Administration forecasts the need for 287,000 megawatts of new electric capacity by 2040. In addition to the electric capacity that will be needed to replace the retired power plants. Many other countries are looking to a rapid expansion of Nuclear Energy to address their growing electricity and environmental needs. Advanced Nuclear Reactor designs or for many technological advances for the u. S. And are also well suited to developing economies. However, without strong federal leadership and direction, the u. S. Industry runs the risk falling behind its international competitors. Hr4979 Affirms Congress commitment to u. S. Leadership in Nuclear Technology and safety. The industry supports provisions in the bill that effectively direct the nrc to think differently about licensing reactors. The bill calls for an efficient, risk informed, Technology Neutral framework for advanced reactor licensing and a phase review process that could effectively facilitate private financing for advanced reactors. Developers will be able to demonstrate progress to investors and other participants in the first of a kind projects and obtain necessary Capital Investments as they achieve mild milestones. The nrc imposes stringent safety requirements that all Nuclear Facilities must meet to maintain Public Health and safety. As we look at the details of. Reporter . It is is important for the nrcs Regulatory Framework to acknowledge there will be a variety of effective ways to meet their safety requirements. Is a government function to develop the regulatory infrastructure, license advanced reactor technologies and, therefore, authorize federal funding to support those activities. Congress should reform the nrcs fee recovery structure to make fees more equitable and transparent. Despite to reduce its budget and right size the agency, fees continue to be excessive and limitations of the mandated 90 fee rule create fundamental structural problems. The nrcs budget is approximately 1 billion per year despite significant decleines in its workload. In particular, according to ernsten young study performed for the nrc, the nrc spends 37 of its budget on Mission Support act costs, more than 10 higher than some peer agencies. Because the nrc must collect 90 of its budget from licensees and the nrc budget has not correspondently declined, remaining licensees are responsible for paying higher annual fees. With recent premature shutdowns and additional l reactor decommissionings in the coming years current Fee Structure, the remaining licensees will bear higher fees. The keynote Energy Policy acts adopts a straightforward approach to making nrc fees more equitable. It would continue to require the licensee to pay for all Agency Activities attributable to a licensee, or class of licensees is but disallow collections of fees with the agencys Corporate Support while there are federal budget questions that arise with this approach, it would require the nrc to justify Corporate Support cost to congress in order to receive appropriations and in turn prompt the nrc to control its budget or reduce or eliminate wasteful spending. The value of allowing International Investments in u. S. Nuclear plants by removing outdated restriction on Foreign Ownership that ignore the multiple protections to our nations security and the reality of todays global Nuclear Energy markets. The draft bill also eliminates the uncontested mandatory nrc hearing on construction permits and combined license applications. This would not limit Public Participation since the public does not participate in a mandatory hearing and multiple other formal opportunities are available for Public Participation. The draft bill would require that the nrc improve the Regulatory Framework for decommissioning Nuclear Power reactors. It is in the best interest of all parties. The nrc licensees and other stakeholders to have a more efficient Regulatory Framework for plants entering the decommissioning process. The significant reduction and risk that result when a power reactor ceases operations, defuels and decommissions. In closing on behalf of nei and its members, i wish to thank congressman latta, mcnerney for introducing the important reactor legislation. We support passage of this bill. We also appreciate congressman kizingers work to reform nrc fees in the regulatory process. We look forward to working with members of the committee and their staff to advance these reforms. Again, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. And our next witness is mr. Jeffrey merrifield, partner of the hillsberry law firm and chairman of the advanced Reactors Task force, Nuclear Infrastructure council. Welcome. Youre recognized for five minutes. [ inaudible ] mr. Merifield, would you move your microphone a little closer . Sorry. I got it. Mr. Chairman, again, thank you very much. Thank you, Ranking Member rush. As a former member of the the nuclear commission, the testified before this committee. Again, its an honor to be here this morning. Today im appearing in my role as chair of the u. S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council advanced Reactors Task force, although as mentioned im a partner in the hillsbury law firm. My testimony will discuss the provisions in hr4979 on advanced reactors and proposed changes to nrc procedures subject to the draft offered by kizinger. Salutes the subcommittees focus and support for advanced reactors as well as the nrc budget reform provisions that provide funding for the nrc to develop a modernized Nuclear Licensing framework for advanced Nuclear Technologies. Nick issued a framework for advanced reactor licensing modernization white paper on february 22nd, 2016, which embraces many of the elements contained in the legislation. When i first became a commissioner in 1998, the nrc with the support of Congress Worked to right size the Agency Consistent with the level of licensing and inspection activities. At that time, the agency had approximately 3,400 employees and within the next now years, we were able to reduce that down to about 2,800. Principally through attrition, yet without any sacrifice to its mission of protecting people and the environment. Today, the agency faces the same challenges to reduce its staff and to become more efficient and timely in its Licensing Activities. While the nrc has made Great Strides in right sizing the agency through project aim, we believe further efficiencies can be realized while at the same time maintaining safety and inspection activities and improving the timeliness of licensing. During the past decade, the u. S. Has maintained its Technology Leadership by building new passive generation 3 reactors in georgia, in south carolina. As well as modular light water Nuclear Reactors headed toward deployment. Nic has seen Significant Growth and support for generation 3 reactors that will provide expanded options for economical, carbonfree electricity. If the United States is to be successful in maintaining its lead in developing and deploying these reactors in the 2020s and 2030s, Congress Must consider significant policy changes. We believe the language in section 6 of hr4979 will allow the agency to create a modern, riskinformed, Technology Neutral framework enable development of advance the regulations without passing costs on to the developers or the utilities. Section 6a6 calls for nrc to evaluate options to allow applicants to use feesreview processes, we believe the language should be strengthened to require the nrc to establish specific stages in the advanced Nuclear Reactor licensing process including a prelicensing vendor Design Review modeled after the canadian Nuclear Safety commission vendor design process that was recommended by the nick white paper. Such a process would allow advanced Rea