ENERGY & WATER APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR CHUCK FLEISCHMANN PROVIDES REMARKS AT CLEANUP CAUCUS

ECA participated in the Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG), Energy Technology and Environmental Business Association (ETEBA), and the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)-hosted House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus on Tuesday, June 10. During the meeting, Chairman of the Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (TN-3), provided an appropriations update. Fleischmann identified that the E&W Appropriations bill is being written, and that the Office of Environmental Management's (EM) cleanup program is on his mind as he works on the bill. He noted the importance of EM appropriations to enabling DOE to pursue the cleanup mission, to assisting contractors who perform cleanup work, and facilitating the transfer of EM land back into critical defense missions and local communities to spur economic development. He highlighted successes at Oak Ridge on all of these fronts, and emphasized how Oak Ridge and other energy communities are working to secure American energy dominance. Fleischmann stated during his remarks; “EM is critically important to me, my heart and our country." House Appropriators are working to develop and pass the 12 appropriations bills through their respective Subcommittees before the Fourth of July. 

Roger Jarrell, Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for EM, also delivered remarks. Jarrell provided recent and ongoing EM achievements, including demolitions at the Portsmouth site and West Valley, cleanup progress on the Hanford Testbed Initiative, and finding new ways to overcome regulatory hurdles to move cleanup forward. He highlighted the role cleanup plays in opening up other opportunities for DOE and local communities. Jarrell also thanked Congressman Fleischmann for his work as E&W Appropriations Chair and his support for his continued support of the EM program. 

To learn more about how the budget and appropriations process impacts DOE programs, visit ECA’s website. ECA looks forward to providing updates on the budget as they develop, so be sure to subscribe to the ECA Bulletin for future updates!