Let me be clear, I do not believe Yucca Mountain should become a simple dumping site for the nation's nuclear waste. This position is proven by my voting record in Congress.

In fact, when the 115th Congress considered the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act (H.R. 3053), a bill to make Yucca Mountain the nation's permanent repository for nuclear waste, I voted against it. After considering the possibility of this legislation becoming law, I worked to give Nevada a seat at the table through an amendment that would have instituted comprehensive and responsible measures in Nevada's best interest.

Unfortunately, after three years of work on these priorities, the House Rules Committee deemed my amendment out of order because it included a transportation component. The reason being, if nuclear waste is going to potentially be transported across state lines via surface or rail transportation, then it's probably responsible to begin discussing transportation plans at the beginning stages of this project. My amendment being ruled out of order led me back to where this entire discussion started: if I am only given a chance to vote on a bill to designate Nevada as the nation's nuclear land fill – I will not support it.

However, in February 2020, President Trump committed the U.S. Department of Energy to finding alternative solutions to Yucca Mountain, while still fulfilling its legal obligations to manage and dispose of the nation’s nuclear waste and will not stand idly by given the stalemate on Yucca Mountain. President Biden has continued this stance, and is in the process of soliciting public feedback for alternate solutions. As the Department of Energy continues to weigh other options, I believe Nevada should have a seat at the table, and dictate the terms of any proposal that impacts our state.