Washington, D.C.—Nevada Senator Harry Reid issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Allison Macfarlane as chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission:

“I am pleased that the Senate quickly confirmed Dr. Allison Macfarlane as the next chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Her experience and focus on the safety and security of all Americans will serve the Commission well.

“I also would like to thank Chairman Greg Jaczko for his steadfast commitment to the safety and security of our nation’s nuclear facilities.  His leadership during the Fukushima nuclear crisis was instrumental in ensuring our nation’s safety in the wake of that disaster. He has served our nation honorably.” ]]> http://democrats.senate.gov/2012/06/29/reid-statement-on-the-confirmation-of-allison-macfarlane-as-nrc-chair/feed/ 0 http://democrats.senate.gov/2012/05/24/reid-statement-on-nomination-of-dr-allison-macfarlane-to-chair-the-nuclear-regulatory-commission/ http://democrats.senate.gov/2012/05/24/reid-statement-on-nomination-of-dr-allison-macfarlane-to-chair-the-nuclear-regulatory-commission/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 19:38:46 +0000 aaron http://democrats.senate.gov/?p=109247 Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released the following statement today:

“I am confident that like her predecessor, Dr. Allison Macfarlane will make preserving the safety and security of American citizens her top priority as Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Dr. Macfarlane’s education and experience, in particular her service on the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, make her eminently qualified to lead the NRC for the foreseeable future. The nuclear industry has a perfect opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to safety by supporting Dr. Macfarlane’s nomination.

“I continue to have grave concerns about Kristine Svinicki’s record on the Commission. But I believe the best interests of the public would be served by moving the nominations of Dr. Macfarlane and Ms. Svinicki together before Ms. Svinicki’s term expires at the end of June, to ensure that we have a fully functioning NRC. Republicans claim to share that goal, and I hope they will work with us to make it a reality.”

“I thank Dr. Jaczko for his service as Commissioner and later Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He dedicated his tenure to improving the safety of nuclear energy, and his leadership during the Fukushima nuclear crisis protected millions of Americans. His work toward a safe and effective nuclear energy policy has left Nevada and the nation more secure. I am confident whomever replaces Chairman Jaczko will share his commitment to protecting the safety of the American people over the interests of a single industry. This is an opportunity for the nuclear industry to demonstrate its commitment to public safety by supporting a Chairperson who puts the safety of American citizens first.

“Greg was my trusted aide for many years and his talent in applying science to public policy was an asset to my staff and the state of Nevada. I wish him well in his future endeavors.”