Congressman Steven Horsford Stands Up for Nevadans to Block Funding for the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) released the following statement about the absence of funding for the nuclear waste repository under Yucca Mountain after the President tweeted that he is committed to finding alternatives.

In the President's budget for Fiscal Year 2021, there is no funding allocated for licensing the planned nuclear waste repository under Yucca Mountain. That would reverse the White House's efforts in its past budget proposals to persuade Congress to appropriate money to reauthorize the site.

"I've said time and time again that Yucca Mountain will never be reauthorized under my watch. The hard work of the Nevada Delegation has clearly put pressure on the White House, as evidenced by the President's newfound commitment to finding alternatives," Congressman Horsford said. "The people of Nevada have made themselves clear: we do not want our state to be the dumping ground for the nation's nuclear waste. My constituents will not be ignored and my fight for their safety will continue."

Last 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. He also joined the other members of the Nevada Delegation in sending a letter to the President requesting no additional funding be budgeted for Yucca Mountain.

Later in 2019, the Congressman used his position on the House Natural Resources Committee to halt another attempt at funding the waste repository with the full support of Chairman Raul Grijalva.

The Congressman will be participating in a hearing on the President's proposed budget on Wednesday at 10 a.m. with the House Budget Committee.