Unfortunately, Price Anderson just passed on a voice vote in the House. Alex Veitch Sierra Club Global Warming & Energy Program Tel: 202 675 7913 http://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming This vote was on whether to reauthorize the Price-Anderson Act, which is the federal government's subsidy program for the dangerous nuclear power industry. The nuclear industry's friends in Congress are rushed the bill through the House today, by putting it on the suspension calendar, which does not allow amendments to the Act and limits debate to 40 minutes. This legislation is extremely controversial and needed full debate before it is taken up by the House. 145 votes against the bill are necessary to return it to the normal legislative process where amendments would be allowed. The Price-Anderson Act was originally enacted in 1957, as a temporary measure in support of the nascent nuclear industry. Nearly 50 years later, this legislation continues to subsidize the nuclear industry by artificially lowering insurance costs and limiting liability of nuclear operators in case of accidents. Reauthorization of the Price-Anderson Act would pave the way for the construction of new nuclear reactors. H.R. 2983 - The bill does not adequately address heightened concerns about security problems at nuclear power plants. Congress should not promote the construction of additional vulnerable targets. -The bill grants special concessions to proposed new Pebble Bed Modular Reactors. If these reactors are "inherently safe," as the industry claims, why do they need subsidized insurance? This section should be removed. - The insurance coverage required under the H.R. 2983 grossly understates the calculated cost of a nuclear accident. Premium levels should be raised. - The bill reauthorizes the Price-Anderson Act for 15 years. This period should be shortened. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]