Sen. Carper Statement on White House Nomination of Dr. Allison Macfarlane for Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Nuclear Safety, issued a statement following the White House nomination of Dr. Allison Macfarlane for Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair:

“I am thankful that the President moved quickly to nominate a new Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman to replace Chairman Jaczko. As only the third woman to ever be nominated as Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Dr. Allison Macfarlane’s expertise, experience, and past leadership on nuclear issues should make her a good candidate for this important position. As the Nuclear Regulatory Commission addresses some of the most pressing issues the nuclear industry has faced in decades – like implementing lessons learned from the Fukushima Nuclear crisis and starting construction on the first new reactors in nearly 30 years – I believe we not only need a full Commission, but also clarity on its leadership into the future. That is why I will work with my colleagues to see that Dr. Macfarlane’s confirmation process is fair and expeditious, yet thorough. This is a critical period for our nation’s nuclear industry as we work to maintain the highest levels of safety and excellence at our nuclear facilities while also encouraging the development of the next generation of nuclear reactors. Congress, the Administration and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission must continue to work closely together to ensure the continued success in the U.S. Nuclear industry.”

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