July 10, 2014 

Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First District released the following statement today on the passage of H.R. 4923, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015. The $34.0 billion bill cuts $50.5 million from the enacted level for FY 2014, significantly underfunding renewable energy development and clean energy initiatives. Amendments were adopted that fail to recognize the impact of climate change on our health and environment. 

Titus offered two amendments to the bill. The first amendment cut all funding related to restarting the failed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository. The second struck language that prevents the Administration from closing the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Depository project for good. The amendments were defeated despite the Department of Energy's bipartisan Blue Commission on America's Nuclear Future report that calls for a new strategy for the safe disposal of the nation's nuclear waste, as well as bipartisan legislation introduced in the United States Senate which would institute a new, consent-based process for the siting of nuclear waste repositories. Titus spoke on the Floor during debate of her amendments (video available below).

"This bill undermines our country's efforts to be a world leader in clean, renewable energy and stymies our potential for economic growth, job creation, energy independence, and global economic competitiveness," said Titus. "Instead of allowing a serious debate over the safe disposal of the nation’s nuclear waste, this bill attempts to resurrect the failed Yucca Mountain project. It’s time to develop an alternative plan that doesn’t throw away billions of taxpayer money, endanger citizens’ safety, or threaten potential economic development projects in Southern Nevada.”