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Recently in Washington

Simpson Introduces Resolution Criticizing NRC Chairman’s Decision on Yucca Mountain
Congressman Mike Simpson introduced a House Resolution last week condemning the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for his unilateral decision to begin the closure of the Yucca Mountain license application review. He was joined by thirteen other Republican members, many of whom sit on committees with jurisdiction over the NRC or Yucca Mountain. Simpson condemned the decision and called on the NRC to immediately resume activities.

“Time and time again, Congress has supported Yucca Mountain as the only option for a long–term nuclear storage site, and it has repeatedly and overwhelmingly rejected attempts to shut down the program,” said Simpson. “The American taxpayer has spent over $8 billion studying Yucca Mountain and is liable for billions more for breach of contract.  During a time of record budget deficits, it is unconscionable that the NRC Chairman and DOE would waste billions of dollars of taxpayer money with no return on the investment.”

NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko has been quoted as saying that he is moving the agency to close down licensing activities based on the guidance of the Administration’s FY2011 proposed budget. The agency is currently operating under a temporary continuing resolution because its final budget was not approved before the 2011 fiscal year started on October 1st. 

This resolution notes the NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board found that the Yucca Mountain license application cannot be legally withdrawn and that the NRC’s Inspector General has launched an investigation of the Chairman’s unilateral decision to terminate the review of the Yucca Mountain application. It formally condemns the Chairman and calls on the NRC to resume license activities immediately pending further direction from Congress.

“Historically, the NRC maintained a role as an independent apolitical regulatory and oversight body,” said Simpson. “It is unconscionable that the NRC Chairman is moving forward unilaterally to shut down the program without the support of Congress or the support of his own commissioners.  The Chairman’s recent actions jeopardize the NRC’s reputation and put the Chairman at risk of making it into just another agency playing partisan politics with Americans’ hard-earned money.”

The cosponsors include the following:
• Jerry Lewis (R-CA); Ranking Member, Committee on Appropriations
• Doc Hastings (R-WA); Ranking Member, Natural Resources
• Paul Ryan (R-WI); Ranking Member, Committee on Budget
• Joe Barton (R-TX); Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce
• Ralph Hall (R-TX); Ranking Member, Science and Technology Committee
• James Sensenbrenner (R-WI); Ranking Member, Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
• Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ); Ranking Member, Energy and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations
• Zack Wamp (R-TN); Member of Energy and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations
• Dennis Rehberg (R-MT); Member of Energy and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations
• Ken Calvert (R-CA); Member of Energy and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations
• Rodney Alexander (R-CA); Member of Energy and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations
• Gresham Barrett (R-SC); Represents Savannah River Cleanup Site
• Ed Whitfield (R-KY); Represents Paducah Cleanup Site

A complete copy of the resolution can be found here.


Simpson Cosponsors the American Recovery and Reinvestment Rescission Act
Bill Will Save Taxpayers Billions of Dollars in Unspent Federal Funding
Congressman Mike Simpson last week cosponsored H.R. 6403, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Rescission Act. H.R. 6403 will rescind all remaining unobligated stimulus dollars left from the $282 billion in discretionary spending that was originally appropriated in the stimulus bill. 

“During a time when the national debt is nearly $14 trillion, this is unacceptable and the American people are demanding a stop to federal spending,” said Simpson. “This legislation is the first step toward reducing the deficit. It is vital that we pass this bill as soon as possible.”

Much of the discretionary stimulus funding has already been distributed to specific programs, with most of it dispersed to projects that failed to create jobs. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), there is currently $12 billion in unobligated funds available for rescission.  Congress has the opportunity to end this wasteful spending and return the remaining billions in taxpayer funds back to the Treasury for deficit reduction. 

“On November 2, Americans made history and sent a strong message to Congress. The wasteful spending has to stop and the deficit has to be reduced. Returning the unspent stimulus money back to the Treasury is the first step to rebuilding our economy,” said Simpson.

H.R. 6403 was referred to the House Appropriations Committee, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Republicans hope to quickly move the bill to the floor for a vote so it can be sent to the President for a signature by the end of this session.

Simpson Urges Forest Service to Support Recreation
Congressman Mike Simpson is advocating for the U.S. Forest Service to implement policies that recognize the value of public access and recreation on national forests.  The Forest Service is currently developing a formal draft National Forest System land management planning rule.  Last week Simpson joined 19 other members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus in sending the agency a letter urging them to ensure that any such rule does not create new obstacles for those who recreate on public lands.

“In Idaho, we know firsthand the value that public lands bring to our way of life,” said Simpson.  “Hunting, fishing, and backpacking are activities that promote a healthy and active lifestyle and provide opportunities for families to spend time together.  What is more, those who live and recreate on public lands are great stewards of the land, and I believe ensuring that people continue to have the opportunity to recreate in our national forests benefits both communities and our forests.”

The letter highlights the fact that millions of American families visit the national forest system each year to enjoy recreational activities, including camping, mountain biking, hiking, hunting and fishing, horseback riding, and off road and other motorized recreation.  These activities not only benefit individuals and families, but they are important economic engines for local economies.  In light of these benefits, Simpson and his colleagues expressed concern about terms used in the Forest Service’s Draft Recreation Approach posted online that are not defined and could lead to litigation or misinterpretation that might reduce recreational opportunities.

The letter reads:  “As the Forest Service develops the rule, we believe it should be simple, unambiguous, and allow individual national forest officials the flexibility to manage these lands based on local needs and input.  We also believe that any rule must either eliminate or clearly define vague terms that could lead to endless litigation and interpretation.  Finally, we encourage the Forest Service to ensure that any national planning rule that is proposed allows for robust and diverse public access to and recreation on our national forests so current and future generations can enjoy their public lands.”

Congressman Simpson is the lead Republican on the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the Forest Service.

Simpson, Hastings, Ryan urge OMB to Review NRC Action to Shut down Yucca Mountain Application
United States Congressmen Mike Simpson, Doc Hastings, and Paul Ryan sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Jeffrey Zients requesting a review of the decision taken by Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Gregory Jaczko to shut down the review of the Department of Energy’s application for Yucca Mountain. Chairman Jaczko acted unilaterally to discontinue the review of the Department of Energy’s application for Yucca Mountain and terminate the project.

In their letter, the Congressmen noted that while the Obama Administration opposes Yucca Mountain, it remains our nation’s repository for spent nuclear fuel and high level defense waste under the law. The members also pointed out the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board rejected the Department of Energy’s motion to withdraw the Yucca Mountain license application and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not yet weighed in on this decision. In addition, litigation contesting the shutdown is pending in federal court. 

“I am greatly concerned by the NRC Chairman’s decision to unilaterally shut down the Yucca Mountain license application over the concern of other Commissioners and Congress,” said Simpson. “The NRC is an independent apolitical regulatory agency, and the fact that it is ignoring sound science and strong Congressional support in favor of partisan politics is very concerning.”

Currently, the federal government is operating under a continuing resolution based on the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations levels. NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko has been quoted as saying that he is moving the agency to close down licensing activities based on the guidance of the Administration’s FY2011 proposed budget.  The Fiscal Year 2011 budget has not been approved by Congress and the President’s budget proposal does not have the force of law.

The Congressmen also requested a detailed explanation from the Office of Management and Budget outlining the legal budgetary authority of Chairman Jaczko to shut down the Yucca Mountain review and terminate the project.

A copy of the letter can be found on Simpson’s webpage.


In the News

Idaho GOPers say lame duck session will focus on budget, taxes
By Brad Iverson-Long, www.idahoreporter.com, November 18th, 2010

Idaho’s three Republicans in Congress expect budget and tax issues to dominate the lame duck session in Washington, D.C. Congress is back in session this week, following the general election earlier this month.

Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in the Nov. 2 election and gained seats in the Senate. The lame duck session includes outgoing members of Congress who lost their races or didn’t seek re-election.

Before the election, Congress passed a temporary continuing resolution for federal spending that expires Dec. 3. A similar spending plan is likely to be approved before that expiration date. If not, many government services would shut down.

Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson said the spending plan should include some reductions. “If congressional Democrats attempt to ram through a huge spending measure at current levels, it will be further proof that they didn’t understand the message sent to them by voters just two weeks ago,” Simpson said.

Also set to expire before the end of the year are the 2001 and 2003 Bush-era income tax cuts. All of Idaho’s members of Congress favor extending all of the tax cuts, while the Obama administration has favored letting tax cuts for couples earning more than $250,000 a year expire.

Simpson said he expects Congress to extend all of the tax cuts, while Sen. Jim Risch said it is too early to tell if they will be extended in full.

“I support keeping all current tax rate in place and then working to keep federal government spending within its means,” Risch said. “The government has a spending and borrowing problem, not a taxing problem.”

Simpson is also backing new legislation from House Republicans that would pull back $12 billion in unobligated federal stimulus funds that have yet to be spent.

While tax and budget issues are pressing during the lame duck session, other legislative topics could see action. A spokesman for Sen. Mike Crapo’s office said there could be debate over the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy restricting gays in the military.

Risch said other topics could come up. “A few other issues may be considered during the lame-duck session, such as the nuclear arms treaty with Russia called START, and how much doctors will be paid for treating Medicaid patients, which is often referred to as the ‘Doc Fix,’ and unemployment insurance,” he said.

Simpson expects that any legislation without broad support is unlikely to get through Congress to President Obama’s desk before the end of the year, according to his spokeswoman, Nikki Watts. “Congressman Simpson believes Speaker Pelosi may try to move a number of contentious bills like cap-and-trade or an omnibus spending bill, but he thinks Republicans will have enough votes in the Senate to stop any onerous legislation from moving forward,” Watts said.

The staff of Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick, who is also in Washington, D.C., for the lame duck session, did not respond to IdahoReporter.com’s request for comment.