How Congressional Retirements in 2020 May Impact DOE Sites
ECA Staff | 10/17/2019
The composition of Congress and its committees will look noticeably different after the 2020 elections. As of today, 21 members of Congress have announced their retirements, and a handful of others will be leaving their current positions to run for another office. Of those retiring, 16 are Republicans and 5 are Democrats.
While the number of upcoming retirements does not approach the number seen in 2018 (55 total), it is worth noting that the 117th Congress will not have many of the current officials who represent DOE sites across the complex, in addition to committee leaders who oversee appropriations and authorizations impacting the sites.
Tennessee
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) will not run for a fourth term. A member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Alexander currently represents Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Y-12 National Security Complex, and East Tennessee Technology Park.
Texas
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), whose district contains the Pantex Plant, announced his retirement this month. Rep. Thornberry is the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, which oversees the annual defense authorization bill.
New Mexico
Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) announced that he will not run for a third term. Sen. Udall represents Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), and Sandia National Laboratories, and has played a key role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) is not retiring but has announced plans to run for the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Udall. Rep. Lujan currently represents LANL, sits on the House Energy and Commerce
Committee, and co-chairs the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus.
Other Important Legislative and Committee Retirements
Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) will not seek another term in 2020. Rep. Shimkus has been one of the most vocal supporters of the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain and has introduced the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act in recent sessions of Congress. He is currently the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, which oversees nuclear waste policy.
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) will retire after serving 16 terms in Congress. While her district does not represent a DOE/NNSA site, her retirement creates a vacancy for one of the most powerful positions in Congress—Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. So far, Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) have expressed interest in filling the chair position in 2021.
It is also important to highlight retiring members who do not represent DOE/NNSA sites in their districts but who sit on the committees with jurisdiction over funding and policy for the sites. From the House Appropriations Committee, Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX), Martha Roby (R-AL), and Jose Serrano (D-NY) will not seek new terms.
From the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Reps. Pete Olson (R-TX), Susan Brooks (R-IN), Bill Flores (R-TX), and Dave Loebsack (D-IA) plan to retire.
Finally, from the House Armed Services Committee, Reps. Rob Bishop (R-UT), Mike Conaway (R-TX), Paul Mitchell (R-MI), and Susan Davis (D-CA) will retire.
Since 2000, an average of 29 members of Congress retire during presidential election years. Therefore, it is possible that there will be a few additional retirements announced in the coming months.
All members of the House are up for re-election in 2020. Around one-third of the Senate is up for re-election, including several Senators who represent DOE sites: Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and John Cornyn (R-TX).
With several vacancies opening in districts and states that represent DOE sites, and even more vacancies on important committees with relevant jurisdiction, ECA will continue its role in engaging and educating federal lawmakers about local communities’ priorities.
Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland passed away on October 17, 2019. Mr. Cummings represented the Baltimore area since 1996, served as Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and leaves behind a decades-long legacy as a civil rights advocate.
ADVANCED NUCLEAR
U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Collaborate on Advanced Nuclear Technologies
U.S. Department of Energy | 10/16/2019
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to share technical expertise and computing resources to speed up the deployment of advanced nuclear
technologies. The MOU centers on DOE’s new National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) initiative which was authorized by the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act of 2017. NRIC will accelerate commercialization by helping private companies test and demonstrate advanced nuclear technologies.
The agreement couples the research capabilities of DOE’s National Laboratories with the regulatory expertise of the NRC to help inform and accelerate the development and licensing of advanced reactors.
“The United States has the technology, expertise and facilities to lead the world in developing next-generation reactors,” said Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Rita Baranwal. “This partnership between DOE and the NRC is a crucial step forward in making sure U.S. nuclear technologies are available, both domestically and abroad, as soon as possible to bring clean and reliable energy to everyone around world.”
According to the agreement, DOE and NRC will share technical information and expertise. In addition, the NRC will have access to capabilities developed through NRIC, including state-of-the-art high-performance computers and modeling codes, to support licensing of advanced nuclear reactors. The NRC will also have access to DOE facilities in order to observe and learn from the research, development, and demonstration of innovative nuclear technologies.
In return, the NRC will provide DOE and the nuclear community with information on its regulations, guidance and licensing processes for new or advanced nuclear reactor technologies. DOE will assist prospective new or advanced reactor applicants in understanding and navigating the regulatory process.
Read the full MOU agreement HERE.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
NUCLEAR SECURITY
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