WASHINGTON –Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, released the following statement in response to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) approval of its first license for the construction of new nuclear reactors since 1978:

“I’m pleased the that NRC has taken a historic step today to support American energy development.  Nuclear power is a reliable source of American energy that must be a part of our energy mix. 

“As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee that oversees NRC, I look forward to working with the agency to ensure that we move forward in a responsible way to protect the public and provide reliable energy to all Americans. 

“I also call on the Obama Administration to ensure the construction of these reactors go forward.  The President said during his State of the Union speech that ‘This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy.’  If President Obama really supports a wide range of energy development, he will encourage his allies in the extreme environmental movement to also support this important project.”

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