Bipartisan Yucca Mountain Support

Floor Speech

* Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Senator Patty Murray of Washington State for bringing attention to the need to reinstate funding for Yucca Mountain. This critical issue involves a $10 billion investment and a 23 year bipartisan agreement. I applaud Senator Murray for introducing an amendment to protect taxpayers' investment by reinstating funding for Yucca Mountain.

* America must remain committed to lessening our dependence on foreign oil. We should promote nuclear energy that is a clean and cost-effective energy source. However, in order to keep nuclear energy safe, we need a secure, permanent place to dispose of it. And that place should be Yucca Mountain.

* I agree with the Charleston Post and Courier that closing Yucca Mountain is ``breathtakingly irresponsible.'' I also appreciate the Aiken Standard's Mike Gellatly for highlighting the bipartisan support of this issue and Senator Murray's amendment.

* There is clear bipartisan support from the Aiken County Council, South Carolina's Attorney General Henry McMaster, the entire South Carolina delegation, and now Democrats questioning leadership of the Senate.

* In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

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