Dear Representative:
On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I urge you to support the “Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017” (H.R. 3053). This bipartisan measure, which passed overwhelmingly out of committee, would designate Nevada’s Yucca Mountain as the site for the nation’s spent nuclear fuel.
It has been decades since Congress enacted legislation calling for a permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. These materials are currently stored at more than 120 sites across the country, many of which were meant to be temporary, and some are located in areas that are susceptible to natural disasters. Our nation cannot afford to delay any further in securing these materials through proper nuclear waste management.
Completing the Yucca Mountain storage facility is not only long overdue, but also will provide thousands of well-paying jobs for skilled workers. Its completion will also put us on the path towards a centralized and secure storage facility that has either met or exceeded all environmental and scientific standards.
We urge you to support H.R. 3053.
Sincerely,
William Samuel, Director
Government Affairs Department