Congressman Steven Horsford Makes Trip to Yucca Mountain to Fight Misinformation on Nuclear Waste Storage
Mercury, NV — On Friday, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) joined his colleagues in Congress on a visit to Yucca Mountain, located within Nevada's Fourth Congressional district, only 90 miles outside of Las Vegas. Congressman Horsford joined Representatives Scott Peters (CA-52), Mike Levin (CA-49), and Bill Flores (TX-17) on a trip to Yucca Mountain to assist in educating his colleagues on the impact that a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain would have on his constituents in the fourth Congressional district and Nevada more broadly.
"I visited Yucca Mountain today to ensure the information shared by the Department of Energy was as accurate as possible and to ask tough questions, holding the Department accountable to the people of Nevada. I will continue to push back on the Department's claims that Yucca Mountain is safe and ensure my colleagues are given factual information about the dangers of nuclear waste disposal," Congressman Horsford said.
In the House of Representatives, members of the Energy and Commerce Committee are considering legislation related to both the interim and permanent storage of nuclear waste. Congressman Horsford attended today's visit to find alternatives to Yucca Mountain and identify solutions for the long-term disposal of nuclear waste; solutions that don't threaten Nevadans.
"I respect that my colleagues want to see nuclear waste removed from their communities, but they also have a duty as federal lawmakers to maintain the safety of all Americans. Yucca Mountain does not maintain the safety of Nevadans, who neither produce nor consume nuclear energy," Congressman Horsford said.
Earlier this year, Congressman Horsford led the effort to defeat a Republican amendment that would have made Nevada a nuclear waste dumping ground, instead convincing members of the House Appropriations Committee to reject the budget and prevent any efforts to restart licensing of Yucca Mountain.