April 9, 2015   

Las Vegas, NV – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First District released the following statement on today's congressional tour of Yucca Mountain led by Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill):

"This taxpayer-funded junket does not move the conversation on long-term nuclear waste storage any closer to a solution. Nevada, which does not have a single nuclear waste plant, didn’t create this problem, and should not be forced to be the nation’s dumping ground,” Titus said.

In March, Titus joined Rep. Joe Heck in introducing the Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act, the House companion to the Senate bill introduced by Nevada Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller. The Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act permits the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to authorize construction of a nuclear waste repository only if the Secretary of Energy has secured written consent from the governor of the host state, affected units of local government, and affected Indian tribes.

“For far too long, supporters of the proposed Yucca Mountain repository have ignored the concerns of Nevada and its local communities. The Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act ensures that our voices are heard and respected when it comes to our state’s future,” Titus said.