WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) helped reintroduce a bipartisan resolution expressing the sense of the U.S. House of Representatives that the United States should support the expansion of domestic nuclear energy production and advanced nuclear technology as a viable source of power to re-establish energy independence.
“Domestic energy independence is critical to our national security,” said Rep. Owens. “Nuclear power offers a clean, reliable, and sustainable form of energy and a tremendous opportunity to decrease reliance on our adversaries and secure energy independence. I am proud to support this commonsense House Resolution to expand nuclear energy production and bolster American national security.”
Background:
Reliable and affordable energy is essential to the longevity of our national security and economy. America’s ninety-three commercial nuclear reactors produce enough electricity to power 75 million homes in a safer and less-expensive manner than other sources of alternative energy. Providing over 470,000 jobs—with three-fourths of nuclear employees being veterans—and annually contributing approximately $60 billion to the U.S. GDP, nuclear energy has the potential to provide significant economic stimulus for American communities in need. Nuclear energy stops 470 million metric tons of carbon pollution from entering the atmosphere each year—which proves that expanding the utilization of nuclear energy can have widespread benefits for our economy and environment. With the proper policy, funding, and innovation in place, we can effectively maintain our nuclear supply chain, create long-lasting American jobs, and re-assert United States leadership across the globe while simultaneously eliminating our reliance on foreign energy sources. Adopting and embracing the usage of nuclear energy is the most cost-effective strategy to assure American energy independence and global leadership for generations to come.
The full text of the legislation is available here.