Recent: 

June 29, 2009 

http://sestak.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa07_sestak/PR_090626_CapTrade.shtml 

The bill included an amendment proposed by the Congressman to require the Secretary of Energy to study how Thorium, a nuclear element, can be used to address our energy needs.  The Congressman believes that nuclear energy needs to be part of our mid-term energy policy to increase domestic energy production and reduce our emissions. In addition, he understands that we must overcome nuclear waste issues. Under the amendment, Thorium could be used with or as a substitute for Uranium in nuclear reactors.  Thorium-powered nuclear reactors have the potential to be more efficient and produce less than 1 percent of the waste of today’s Uranium nuclear reactors, while emitting no greenhouse gases. 

Using Thorium reactors do not breed plutonium, and can, in fact, be designed to “burn” plutonium into non-weapons grade material and, thus, decrease weapons proliferation.  Additionally, Thorium nuclear reactors can help eliminate spent Uranium.

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June 29, 2009

Congressman Coffman 

http://coffman.house.gov/2009/06/congressman-coffman-comments-on-fiscal-year-2010-defense-authorization-bill.shtml 

“I passed an amendment requiring a report on the usage of minerals generally occurring in low concentrations in the Defense supply chain. The U.S. currently has zero production capacity for some key so-called ‘rare earth’ components of military systems, leaving us totally dependent on foreign suppliers for critical parts. This is strategically dangerous, and I hope this report will be the start of an effort to secure capacity. “

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http://newsblaze.com/story/20090620073754zzzz.nb/topstory.html

Congressman Sestak Includes Key Provisions in National Defense Authorization Act

Published: June 20, 2009

Thorium Study for Energy Efficiency

This provision directs the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to jointly carry out a study on the use of thorium-liquid fueled nuclear reactors for naval power, an important assessment of an energy source that has shown great potential to be more efficient for our military.

While our nuclear Navy has thrived with a continuing record of zero reactor accidents, thorium may be more efficient than uranium as a fuel source. Massive fuel rods would not have to be utilized, and it produces only 1/2000th the waste of uranium. In domestic applications, waste can even be stored on-site, eliminating the necessity of facilities such as Yucca Mountain. Large deposits of thorium can be mined domestically in States such as Idaho, and we already have 160,000 tons in reserve.Under a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, any new major combatant vessels for the U.S. strike force is required to be constructed with an integrated nuclear power system unless the Secretary of Defense submits a notification to Congress that the inclusion of an integrated nuclear power system in a given class of ship is not in the national interest. While the Congressman is not yet convinced that nuclear power for Naval ships is always cost-beneficial in the long term, if there are nuclear-powered vessels that continue to be built under Congressional mandate, then all options for the fuel source are worthy of consideration.

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S. 3680 [110th]: Thorium Energy Independence and Security Act of 2008S 3680 IS

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES - October 2, 2008

To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide for thorium fuel cycle nuclear power generation.

Mr. HATCH (for himself and Mr. REID) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s110-3680    Senate.gov link 1           Senate.gov link 2 

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H. R. 2015: To instruct the Secretary of Energy to carry out a study on the use of thorium -fueled nuclear reactors.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - April 21, 2009

Mr. SESTAK introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILLTo instruct the Secretary of Energy to carry out a study on the use of thorium -fueled nuclear reactors. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:2:./temp/~c111sEmJsZ:: 

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H. R. 1534 : To direct the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to jointly carry out a study on the use of thorium -liquid fueled nuclear reactors for naval power needs, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - March 16, 2009

Mr. SESTAK introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILLTo direct the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to jointly carry out a study on the use of thorium - liquid fueled nuclear reactors for naval power needs, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:1:./temp/~c111ZQTbBq::

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