WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), today passed two bipartisan energy bills that protect jobs, public health, and the economy. The committee advanced H.R. 4775, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016 by a vote of 30 to 23 and unanimously passed H.R. 4979, the Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2016.
Legislative Highlights:
H.R. 4775, authored by Energy and Power Subcommittee Vice Chairman Pete Olson (R-TX), would;
* Provide states the flexibility and time needed to implement new ozone standards and address other practical implementation challenges under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards program.
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H.R. 4979, authored by committee members Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA), would;
* Require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to develop the regulatory framework for safe, advanced nuclear energy technologies. H.R. 4979 would also direct the Department of Energy and NRC to collaborate where appropriate to provide certainty for the safe development of advanced nuclear technology.
Quotable:
“State after state is telling us what we already know. The Clean Air Act is hugely important but it’s also imperfect. This bill is not about changing the fundamentals of the Clean Air Act; this bill recognizes a simple fact. States and EPA need more time," said Olson. “Ozone levels continue to trend in the right direction. My bill simply provides needed flexibility so that states and localities can achieve new, lower standards with time for compliance."
“As the United States looks to the future more energy will be needed and nuclear power provides a reliable, clean, baseload power option currently providing 63 percent of the total carbon free energy," said Latta. “H.R. 4979 requires the NRC establish a regulatory framework for issuing licenses for advanced nuclear technology and ensures the NRC provides the certainty the private sector needs to continue to invest in innovative technologies."
“Today we advanced two balanced, thoughtful bills that are good for jobs, good for the economy, and good for the public health," concluded Chairman Upton. “Mr. Olson’s commonsense solution would implement the two ozone rules sequentially instead of simultaneously. Mr. Latta’s bipartisan bill helps give us an NRC that is better prepared for the present and the future, and an American nuclear industry that stays a world leader and job creator."
For an archived webcast, amendment text, and background memo, click here. Related Items
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* #SubEnergyPower Examines Bipartisan Ozone Bill
