BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
HASC completes markup of NDAA, authorizes over $768.1 billion in funding
ECA Staff | 9/2/2021
On Wednesday, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) began the markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2022. HASC Chairman Adam Smith began the session by remarking, "I think we have an excellent bill." Chairman Smith's proposal authorized $744.2 billion in
discretionary spending for national defense. Of these funds, $27.8 billion were provided for DOE as a discretionary base.
Of the approximately 780 amendments submitted for the bill, perhaps the most anticipated was a $23.9 billion alternative spending plan proposed by top Armed Services Republican Mike Rogers. The amendment aimed to provide $15 billion to unfunded military priorities, $5.2 billion for research and development, and $3.8 billion for military construction projects and facilities upgrades. Also included in the amendment's proposed funding was $426 million for NNSA facilities improvements. The amendment passed by a vote of
42-17.
Despite proposals approved at the beginning of the markup for limiting the length of debate (which were met by cheers and applause from committee members), the session extended into the early hours of Thursday morning. The HASC ultimately approved the FY 2022 NDAA by a vote of 57-2. The measure must now be passed by the full House. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved its NDAA on July 22.
Once both measures are passed in their respective chambers, the House and Senate must reconcile and approve a final version to be sent to President Biden to be signed into law.
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NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP
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Postponing the 2021 National Cleanup Workshop
Based on the new COVID variant and the Department of Energy's determination, the National Cleanup Workshop will be postponed to a later date that will allow us to safely meet in
person.
We expect that the Workshop will be held in early December, and we will follow up with more information soon.
If you have already registered for the Workshop, you will not need re-register once we have selected new dates. If you have questions, please contact Autumn Bogus at abogus@la-inc.com or (865) 300-1061.
POLICY & LEGISLATIVE
Bill banning high-level waste in TX passes
ECA Staff | 9/2/2021
On Wednesday, TX HB 7 passed favorably in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development by a vote of 6-1. The legislation, titled "An Act relating to the storage or disposal of high-level radioactive waste," would ban such waste from entering the state of Texas. The bill would also bar state agencies
from issuing construction, stormwater, or pollution permits for facilities that are licensed to store high-level radioactive waste. The bill originally failed in the regular legislative session in May, but was reintroduced during this year's second special session and passed in the House on Monday. The re-proposed legislation comes at the same time that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is advancing a license for a spent-nuclear storage facility in Andrews County, Texas. The facility, a joint venture between Waste Control Specialists and Orano, proposes storing the nuclear waste in above-ground casks until a permanent geologic repository is made available. HB 7 would effectively ban the facility from
taking on this high-level waste. However, the bill does not completely prohibit the state from taking in Greater-Than-Class C Waste, a discussion and decision that is ongoing in the state of Texas.
To watch the public hearing of the Committee, please click here.
POLICY & LEGISLATIVE
NEW NUCLEAR
NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local
governments.
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