May 9, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 77 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages S2754-S2755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Yucca Mountain

  Madam President, we are a State that was born to take on challenges. 
We come together from every walk of life to make cities that shine from 
out of the desert. We are battle born, and we are battle tested, and it 
is our grit, our perseverance, and our diversity that truly capture who 
we are. It is those same qualities that will help us change the face of 
our Nation.
  Remembering where we come from--that philosophy--is a driving force 
behind my support for environmental policies that will protect our 
States' treasures, including our mountains, rivers, and lakes.
  I am honored to represent the most beautiful State in the country, 
but there is one environmental issue that threatens Nevada's beautiful 
landscapes and the families that call our State home, and that is Yucca 
Mountain. Nevada has made it clear time and again that we will not 
become the Nation's dumping ground for nuclear waste. Yet we continue 
to see relentless efforts to turn our State into the Nation's sole 
nuclear waste repository without our consent, even after we have made 
our voices heard, even though Nevada does not create nuclear waste. 
Congress must respect our will and our rights as a State because our 
voice matters. I stand prepared to use every tool at my disposal to 
defend our State from attempts to revive this project.
  I will continue to fight to keep our State beautiful by standing up 
for clean air and clean water, by protecting public lands and investing 
in clean energy, by taking real action to address climate change. I 
know we can leave the world a better place for future generations.
  We also know there are commonsense ways to address our climate 
challenges, including investing in renewable energy right at home. In 
Nevada, solar

[[Page S2755]]

energy is both creating jobs and helping us to lead a way toward a 
clean energy future. That is why, last year in the House, I led the 
charge against harmful solar tariffs that threatened to roll back the 
progress we have made and why I introduced legislation to train our 
veterans for good-paying jobs--solar jobs--that can both support 
families and reduce our carbon footprint.
  I will continue these efforts here in the Senate because our energy 
independence and the future of our planet should never be partisan 
issues.