UPDATE 6/7: Post updated with vote results.
The House of Representatives today is scheduled to complete floor action on the FY 2013 Energy and Water bill (H.R. 5325). Below is a list of amendments related to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Votes are scheduled to take place this afternoon with a vote on final passage of the bill expected soon thereafter. We’ll update the post with amendment votes when they’re available.
-Fortenberry (R-NE) amendment to transfer $17 million from Mixed Oxide Fuel (MOX) program to the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI). As Rep. Fortenberry put it in his floor statement, “As a cofounder of the House Nuclear Security Caucus, Mr. Chairman, I feel confident that the funding removed from the mixed oxide fuel program will be put to much better use protecting our Nation through the global threat reduction initiative.” ADOPTED by vote of 328-89.
-Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) amendment to add $16 million for GTRI from the Department of Energy’s department administration accounts. DEFEATED by vote of 182-237.
-Polis (D-CO) and Markey (D-MA) amendment to cut the NNSA Weapons Activities account by $298.2 million. DEFEATED by vote of 138-281.
-Burgess (R-TX) and Markey (D-MA) amendment to eliminate the remaining $100 million in USEC funding. DEFEATED by vote of 168-249.
The dog that didn’t bark? Rep. Turner, who, like last year, did not offer an amendment to increase funding for NNSA’s nuclear weapons activities account. You’ll remember that the administration’s FY 2013 budget request include no funding and a five year delay to the new plutonium facility at Los Alamos, the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Nuclear Facility (CMRR-NF). The House Appropriations Committee accepted the administration’s decision in its mark of the Energy and Water bill in April. So too did the Senate Appropriations Committee. Now the full House has followed suit.
