House Committee on Energy and Commerce

All Updates

Apr 29, 2026

Chairman Latta Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Energy Hearing on Meeting Growing Power Demand While Protecting Ratepayers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing to discuss legislative solutions to meet growing power demand while protecting ratepayers.

Subcommittee Chairman Latta’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Good morning and welcome to today’s legislative hearing to discuss proposals to improve the power sector during this time of historic load growth and affordability challenges.

“Access to reliable and affordable energy is the linchpin to U.S. leadership in AI development.

“This subcommittee has spent considerable time examining the opportunities and challenges that arise from U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.

“From that work, it is safe to assume AI is one of the defining challenges of our time. It encompasses the race for economic strength, technological leadership, and national security in the 21st century.

“Today, AI is already driving a significant share of economic growth. It is making businesses more productive, workers more efficient, and industries more competitive.

“We also examined the risks of the United States losing this global AI race.

“The ability of malign actors like Russia and Communist China using AI models to disrupt global economies are no longer theoretical, but a reality.

“At the same time, the American people are understandably uneasy. Many question whether AI, and the data centers that power it, will ultimately do more harm than good, particularly when it comes to individual energy costs. These concerns deserve to be taken seriously.

“Our global competitors are not slowing down. China is investing heavily in AI with the explicit goal of surpassing the United States.

“That’s why it’s vital that we ensure that interconnecting new data centers lower costs and brings benefits to households like grid modernization, more dispatchable energy resources, and significant state and local tax revenue.

“In fact, the Lawrence Berkely National Lab and others have found that data center load growth lessens retail electricity costs.

“While we may not agree on every provision, the legislation under consideration today raises policy solutions to ensure this outcome is replicated across the country.
However, demand growth continues to outpace our generation resources.

“The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s recent yearly assessment estimated that peak demand over the next 10 years would grow by 224 GW while 105 GW of dispatchable generation is expected to retire, therefore we are 329 GW short.

“Earlier this Congress, we advanced several bills to resolve the reliability crisis caused by the Biden Administration and bring dispatchable baseload energy to keep the lights on year-round.

“These efforts have been bolstered by the Trump Administration’s decisive actions to refocus federal authorities on policies that matter most to the American people – abundant and reliable energy supplies at an affordable price.

“The Ratepayer Protection Act would ensure that states have the necessary policies in place to safeguard households from footing the bill for data center energy needs.

“The Load Forecasting Enhancement Act would usher in bottom-up planning to improve the accuracy of demand growth projections to right-size cost-effective generation and transmission build out.

“The Fair Allocation of Interstates Rates Act, introduced by my colleague from North Dakota, is a practical solution to place the burden of renewable portfolio standard costs on the states that choose to adopt those requirements.

“The Advanced Transmission Technologies to Reduce Rates Act would leverage the important work of DOE and enhance the use of advanced transmission technologies to bring more cost-effective solutions to our growing energy needs.

“I look forward to the discussion with our witnesses who have valuable expertise and experience to provide key insights into the bills before us.

“Mr. Nick Myers, Chairman of Arizona’s Corporation Commission plays an essential role on retail electricity and the importance of state involvement in transmission planning and development.

“Mr. Nelson Peeler from Duke Energy brings operational experience from an investor-owned utility to provide practical understanding of how our transmission system is built and operated.

“Mr. Tom Falcone, president of the Large Public Power Council, brings the unique perspective of municipally owned utilities that serve large communities and cities across the country.

“And Ms. Whitney Muse brings power sector expertise from both the public and private sector.

“This hearing continues the important work of our subcommittee to power future industries in a way that lowers costs and fuels economic growth for communities across the country.”

Apr 29, 2026

Chairman Griffith Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Health Hearing on Policies to Strengthen FDA Food Regulation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing discussing legislation that protects American food producers and improves FDA’s food safety review.

Subcommittee Chairman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Today, we will be discussing bills that seek to improve the regulation and oversight of our nation’s food.

“First off, I want to commend the Administration’s efforts to bring transparency to our food system, especially in the wake of the chronic disease epidemic facing our country.

“Chronic diseases have become one of the primary drivers of health care spending in the nation and the Administration’s efforts reflect a renewed commitment to long-term health, laying the groundwork for a healthier future where fewer Americans face preventable diseases.

“For too long, the status quo has remained unchanged.

“That is why this hearing is an important first step for us to examine what regulatory standards and policies need to be reevaluated.

“I also want to highlight the impact our food has on our children and the rise of childhood chronic disease.

“Many of the chronic conditions children face today, such as obesity and diabetes, can be related back to some highly processed foods.

“Prioritizing safer, higher-quality ingredients not only protects children at the onset, but also helps establish healthier dietary patterns, lowering the likelihood of chronic disease.

“An important part of today’s hearing will highlight various bills that reform the Generally Recognized as Safe, or GRAS, process.

“In 1958, Congress created this framework so certain food additives that were deemed safe by the FDA would not need to go through the same lengthy review as a new food additive.

“In short, GRAS was meant to avoid unnecessary red tape for ingredients that are already widely known as safe, but it was intended for common ingredients such as salt and baking soda.

“Over time, the list has become extensive, and to no fault of the companies or regulators, many complex chemicals are now considered generally recognized as safe, using the pathway to avoid going through formal FDA approval.

“Several of the bills before us today look at ways we can update the GRAS program to combat some of the challenges in the current regulations.

“Furthermore, it is important that we empower Americans to take their health into their own hands by looking for ways to improve the labeling of our food products.

“I have many allergies and so does one of my sons. Because of this, I spend a lot of time reading food labels.

“I have Alpha-gal syndrome, which causes me to have a reaction to red meat and other mammalian derived products.

“One of the bills we will consider today is led by Representative Van Drew of New Jersey and Representative Don Davis of North Carolina. H.R. 1178, the Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act, of which I am a cosponsor, would classify Alpha-gal as a major food allergen and require its identification on packaged food labels.

“Other bills we will discuss attempt to bring more clarity and safety for certain foods such as poppy seeds, dairy products, orange juice, honey, food dyes and others.

“These bills in front of us will also help cut red tape to ensure industry has the necessary information to correct any safety issues that come up during inspections.

“Moreover, food safety and a stable food supply, which includes not putting unreasonable burden on food distributors, are central to keeping groceries affordable.

“Whether from contamination recalls, inconsistent regulations, or bottlenecks in production or distribution, disruptions drive up costs that are ultimately passed on to shoppers.

“American consumers need to be at the forefront of our discussion today, as we look for ways to not only safeguard our food supply but also ensure transparency, reduce unnecessary costs, and work to increase access to affordable, reliable food for all households.

“I am looking forward to continuing to work with this Administration and advancing these goals and bills.

“I appreciate our witnesses being here and look forward to the discussion.”

Apr 29, 2026

Health

Health Subcommittee Holds Legislative Hearing on Policies to Strengthen FDA Food Regulation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, led a hearing titled Healthier America: Legislative Proposals on the Regulation and Oversight of Food.

“This Administration has taken many steps to help combat the chronic disease epidemic in our country including reforming dietary guidelines, launching operation stork speed, phasing out certain food additives, and much more. For too long, the status quo has remained unchanged,” said Chairman Griffith. “That is why this hearing was an important first step for us to examine what regulatory standards and policies need to be reevaluated.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

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Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), on H.R. 8414, the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday (DAIRY PRIDE) Act: “As kids, we learn probably in about fourth or fifth grade that milk comes from a mammal for the nourishment of their young. Yet, plant-based beverages are being labeled as ‘milk’ and sold in dairy counters across the United States. How can we expect that consumers make nutritious choices when products are being mislabeled right in front of their eyes? My legislation, the DAIRY PRIDE Act, will ensure that dairy products are accurately labeled and will protect consumers from this misleading marketing. The benefits are twofold; the DAIRY PRIDE Act was crafted for consumers and for dairy farmers. Ensuring honest labeling practices both gives the consumers the clarity that they deserve and supports American dairy farmers.”

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Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23), on H.R. 7366, the Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act: “For nearly 30 years, dietary supplements have been regulated under single science-based national framework led by the FDA, giving consumers confidence that products are safe and properly labeled and consistently regulated across the country. But in recent years, as we’ve seen in many different industries, states are moving away from that model, imposing their own arduous requirements and restrictions, often beyond what the FDA has already reviewed and determined to be safe. My state of New York often does this, and it leads to higher costs and fewer choices with consumers. When states override science-based FDA determination, you end up in a situation where the same product is treated as safe in one state, but suspect in another state, just by crossing a state line. That’s regulation for regulation’s sake; it doesn’t make any sense for businesses or the people that they serve. That’s why I have introduced H.R. 7366, the Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act, to reaffirm that we should have one clear, science-based national standard—not a patchwork of conflicting state rules.”

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Congressman Michael Rulli (OH-06), on H.R. 8430, the Third-Party Certification and Inspection Modernization Act of 2026: “I believe, in order to have safe food supply, there must be a robust collaboration between local, state, and federal entities. When I was an Ohio senator, I was impressed on how state regulators ran these such programs. My bipartisan bill, H.R. 8430, would ensure that HHS shares unredacted food safety information with local and state governments. H.R. 8430 will do the following: this bill will allow the FDA to share information, identifying recipients of recalled foods during a food safety incident. I’ve witnessed this personally in my family business for years. This bill also allows FDA to share shipping and distribution information related to a recalled food product. And that's crucial because time is of the essence when you’re doing that. And this bill also requires receiving agencies to keep their information confidential and that it can be shared within the industry.”

Apr 29, 2026

Energy

Energy Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Meeting Growing Power Demand While Protecting Ratepayers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, led a hearing titled AI and the Grid: Meeting Growing Power Demand While Protecting Ratepayers.

“Our global competitors are not slowing down. China is investing heavily in AI with the explicit goal of surpassing the United States,” said Chairman Latta. “That’s why it’s vital that we ensure that interconnecting new data centers lower costs and brings benefits to households like grid modernization, more dispatchable energy resources, and significant state and local tax revenue.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

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Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01): “Electricity demand is growing faster than at any point in recent memory, driven by AI, advanced manufacturing, and electrification. Meeting that demand requires new generation, upgraded transmission, and the regulatory frameworks to support both. The bills before us today address the right set of problems: accurate load forecasting, cost-effective transmission expansion, and making sure infrastructure costs are borne by the customers who caused them.

“Mr. Peeler, in your testimony you highlight using advanced conductors, dynamic line ratings, and other grid-enhancing technologies to unlock more capacity on existing lines as a bridge while long-lead equipment is being installed. You also mentioned that Duke Energy is in the middle of the largest capital buildout in your company's history, and how permitting reform is a critical enabler to allowing you to efficiently deploy those investments. What do you think about allowing reconductoring and grid-enhancement technology deployment within existing rights-of-way to be considered as a new categorical exclusion under NEPA?”

Mr. Peeler: “Thank you for the question. Certainly anything that speeds the process while continuing to provide environmental protections is a great tool for us. We would certainly support that.”

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Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “Just last week, I was thrilled to hear that the NRC approved Robinson's application to operate for an additional 20 years through 2050, which is important for both the local area and the entire state. It's an exciting time for the district, for South Carolina, and certainly for Duke Energy.

“In light of the growing demand for power, there is discussion about permitting reforms to ensure the production and supply of that power. Last week, the head of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners wrote a letter to leaders of the Senate Energy Committee who were reportedly involved in permitting reforms themselves. This letter made several points about reforming federal permitting processes and reducing red tape, not increasing it. It concluded, with respect to transmission, that members "should resist any effort to concentrate even more authority over local siting decisions in the federal government.”

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Congressman John James (MI-10): “We're here today because the stakes could not be higher. The United States is in direct competition with China to lead the future of artificial intelligence. Winning that race will require more than innovation — it will require the ability to generate and deliver massive amounts of reliable power. It's clear energy demand is rising fast, driven in large part by data centers and advanced computing. That presents a real opportunity, especially for states like Michigan. Data centers can bring investment, jobs, and long-term economic growth. But we have to get the fundamentals right: local control, brownfields before farmland, protect our water, and keep electric bills low.”

Apr 28, 2026

Environment

Congressman Griffith Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Environment Hearing on The EPA FY2027 Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency FY2027 budget.

Congressman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Today the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will consider President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“I’m glad to welcome back Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, who many of us fondly remember serving with in the House.

“When you testified before this Subcommittee last year to discuss EPA’s budget request for fiscal year 2026, I noted that you faced a difficult but important job as EPA Administrator.

“I believe that you have excelled as Administrator, the people across my district have been excited to see the direction that you and President Trump have steered EPA under your Great American Comeback Initiative.'

“Thank you and President Trump for returning the EPA to its rightful role of protecting human health and cleaning up the environment, not an anti-jobs agency.

“It is refreshing to see the Trump Administration take a measured and thoughtful approach to regulation and enforcement, unlike under the previous Administration where the agency operated as a center for pushing uncompromising ideologies.

“The EPA under President Trump has closely followed its enabling statutes and not stretched the meaning of the law for the benefit of over-zealous activists.

“I commend you for taking a pragmatic approach to regulatory actions that closely uphold the laws the EPA is charged with enforcing.

“The EPA has done great work over this past year, from cleaning up sewage spills in California to expediting Superfund site closures and to clarifying Clean Air Act guidance.

“You were tasked with undoing the regulatory overreach of the Biden-Harris administration and refocusing EPA’s work and I believe you’re off to a good start.

“Also, I would like to take a moment to personally thank you and President Trump for prioritizing the rollback of blatantly anti-coal regulations that were churned out, on what seemed to me like a monthly basis, by the Biden-Harris EPA.

“Under your leadership, EPA finalized a repeal of the Obama Administration’s 2009 so-called greenhouse gas endangerment finding under the Clean Air Act, which led to a series of costly regulations that limited consumer choices.

“Over the past year, EPA has also worked to improve permitting guidance under the Clean Air Act.

“EPA has also prioritized actions to safeguard drinking water, including proposing to require monitoring of microplastics, PFAS, and pharmaceuticals under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

“Administrator you have also been successful in reining in the wasteful Green New Deal and DEI initiatives that characterized the Biden Administration.

“For fiscal year 2027, President Trump is requesting $4.2 billion in new budget authority for EPA.

“This budget proposal would provide more than $2.5 billion for EPA’s environmental managements programs, as well as almost $750 million in grant assistance for states and Tribes, more than $500 million for science and technology activities, and $290 million for Superfund site cleanup.

“Despite what our friends across the aisle may say, this is a significant amount of taxpayer dollars.

“It is important to remember that EPA received an exorbitant $100 billion in appropriations for fiscal years 2022 through 2026 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Such lavish funding levels, over 10 times the average historical EPA appropriation -- was intended to be a one-time, once-in-a-generation supplement, with much of the increased funding for specific water infrastructure and cleanup programs.

“Those appropriations were never intended to be the new normal for EPA funding.

“This budget request is fiscally responsible and focuses on infrastructure and distinct cleanup goals.

“The EPA’s budget request will continue to support EPA’s core programs and is in line with the limited legal authority and cooperative federalism framework that Congress envisioned for EPA.

“It is important for Congress to examine how the laws it enacts are working and whether they need to be amended or even repealed.

“When I was Chairman of the Environment Subcommittee, we began reviewing all of EPA’s statutory authorities.

“Chairman Palmer has continued this important work, by holding hearings and markups on reauthorizations for the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Brownfields law, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and by considering amendments to the Clean Air Act and the federal waste and recycling laws.

“Thank you again for coming before us today, Administrator Zeldin, I look forward to hearing about your priorities for EPA and how Congress can help ensure that we have clean air, clean water, and good jobs.”

Apr 28, 2026

Environment

Environment Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the EPA FY2027 Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), led a hearing titled The Fiscal Year 2027 Environmental Protection Agency Budget.

“Today’s hearing provided the opportunity to discuss the EPA’s budget request,” said Congressman Griffith. “Over the past year, under the leadership of Administrator Zeldin, EPA has returned to its rightful role of protecting human health and cleaning up the environment while powering the great American comeback.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

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Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01): “One of the regulations that's been devastating for our nation and for the growth of our nation in manufacturing has been the unworkable PM 2.5 standard — particulate matter. As you know, the Biden-Harris Administration made some significant changes to this, and it's caused a lot of businesses not to be able to locate in areas that they'd like to locate in. It's something that we're trying to address here in this committee. This made it more difficult to create jobs, to build cutting-edge factories, and to lead the world in the development of new products that we know we need to be doing. Can you provide us with an update on where the agency stands to revisit and revise this rule?”

Administrator Zeldin: “The Trump Administration is no longer defending the unlawful 2024 Biden PM 2.5 NAAQS rule. This was a necessary decision that we made because the previous administration's actions were discretionary and didn't align with the statutory obligations of the Clean Air Act. EPA is remaining hopeful that the D.C. Circuit will soon release a decision on that.”

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Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11): “The Biden-Harris EPA imposed trillions of dollars in regulatory costs based on wildly inflated benefit calculations, assigning speculative dollar values to statistical lives while ignoring the real-world consequences of making energy unaffordable. Twenty-five million American households have reported going without food or medicine to pay their energy bills. That is the human cost of regulatory excess.

“This EPA is doing what the agency is supposed to do — rigorous, honest cost-benefit analysis, not rubber-stamping regulations that strangle reliable energy production while claiming to save lives on a spreadsheet. Affordable, reliable energy is the foundation of American health and safety. And Administrator Zeldin, your reforms are protecting Americans — not by speculating about benefits, but by delivering them.”

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Congressman John James (MI-10): “The United States, and especially states like Michigan — manufacturers and producers of energy — we make energy cleaner and safer and more responsibly than anyone else in the world. That's a competitive advantage. We should be leaning into that competitive advantage, not regulating our way out of existence.

“Over the past several years, we've seen a growing trend, and from the previous administration, from the Whitmer administration in Lansing, toward theoretical, one-size-fits-all regulations that look good on paper but don't work in the real world. These mandates too often strangle businesses, delay projects indefinitely, and make it nearly impossible to build, invest, and innovate right here at home. At a time when we're competing with China, who's not playing by the same environmental or economic rules, the last thing we should be doing is tying our own hands.”

Apr 27, 2026

Press Release

Energy and Commerce Weekly Look Ahead: The Week of April 27th, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding three Subcommittee Hearings. Read more below.

SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment is holding a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s FY2027 budget.

DATE: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
TIME: 10:00 AM ET
LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy is holding a hearing on legislation to meeting growing power demand from AI while protecting ratepayers.

DATE: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
TIME: 10:15 AM ET
LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health is holding a hearing on legislation to strengthen FDA oversight and regulation of food.

DATE: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
TIME: 2:00 PM ET
LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Apr 23, 2026

Environment

Environment Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Critical Material Supply Chains

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, led a hearing titled Help or Hindrance? The Impact of U.S. Environmental Laws on Critical Material Supply Chains, National Security, and Economic Growth.

“Our country has a rich bounty of natural resources and, for most of the 20th Century, the United States was the leader in producing and refining critical minerals,” said Chairman Palmer. “However, in the past several decades, China has aggressively sought to dominate the global market for critical minerals – with dire consequences for our national security."

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from yesterday’s hearing:

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Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13): “Securing domestic critical material supply chains has been a key focus for both the Trump Administration and this committee. This is not an abstract concern. China currently controls the global critical minerals market and has already shown a willingness to place export controls on materials that are needed in national defense and in manufacturing sectors. Not only are we not significantly mining or processing these minerals domestically, but our current regulatory schemes are also making it harder to recycle the materials that we have already imported and could potentially reuse. Instead of crafting regulations to keep these materials in circulation domestically, the current framework often pushes the recovery of these materials right out of the country, only to be sold back to the United States again. Failing to update our regulations to address this issue has both economic and national security ramifications. We need to work toward a regulatory scheme that acknowledges the reality of how important certain materials and chemistries are to U.S. interests.”

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Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01): “The United States certainly finds itself in a perilous position when it comes to critical minerals supply chains, which have nothing to do with this Administration. China has pursued a long-term strategy for dominance across the entire supply chain, from mining to processing to manufacturing. While we were slow in the United States to respond, that began to change during the Trump Administration, which directed the federal government to develop a strategy for securing reliable mineral supplies. Congress built on that foundation through the Energy Act of 2020, and today the federal critical minerals list stands at 50 commodities, with more than ten added just this past year. We have made promising progress identifying the problem. Now we need solutions.

“One area where I've focused my efforts is building a stronger secondary market. My bill, the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act, establishes an EPA pilot program to expand collection and recycling capabilities, including in rural communities. And in one of my first terms in Congress, I was able to navigate a bill through that required the DOD — or now Department of War — to send its hard drives, scrubbed and cleaned, to the Ames National Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, to have the critical minerals, elements, and magnets removed in a safe process, and that is now ongoing. So the goal is simple: collect more, recycle more, and feed those materials back into domestic refining and processing rather than sending them overseas.”

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Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01): “China is dominating rare earth minerals — rare earth elements like graphite, lithium, cobalt, and copper. We all know that, and we all understand how important it is for us to be competitive there. However, to develop the domestic capacity to process and refine critical minerals, we need a more efficient permitting process. And that is why I have introduced H.R. 3059, the Streamlining Critical Mineral Permitting Act. It actually passed the House as part of the Lower Energy Costs Act last Congress, and is still pending again this Congress. It will allow processors and refiners of critical energy resources to operate under an interim permit under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.”

Apr 23, 2026

Energy

Energy Subcommittee Holds Hearing Conducting Oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, led a hearing titled Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Oversight of Activities, Priorities, and Fiscal Year 2027 Budget.

“We need firm, reliable power, and a lot more of it. Successful deployment of nuclear technologies promises to help meet future energy demand, as well as assist in a range of other applications beneficial to society,” said Chairman Latta. “Expanding nuclear deployment also promises to strengthen our national security, by increasing nuclear commerce with allies and supporting a more cost-effective nuclear industrial base.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from yesterday's hearing:

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Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12): “Chairman Nieh, I'd like to touch on the Commission's process for reviewing uprate requests to nuclear facilities that increase their generation output. Last year, the House passed my bill, the GRID Power Act, which will help expedite certain generation projects through grid operators' interconnection queues. And recently, FERC has approved requests from grid operators to expedite projects through their queues to increase generation and meet the growing demand. For example, PJM's Reliability Resource Initiative includes five nuclear projects, including for upgrades at nuclear facilities to increase capacity by nearly 500 megawatts. Can you discuss the NRC's review process for uprate requests at existing nuclear facilities, and what's your timeframe for finishing these reviews?”

Chairman Nieh: “Thank you, Congressman, for the question. The NRC has had a power uprate program for decades. And in fact, over the years that we've been doing power uprates, we have approved nearly 9,000 megawatts electric of upgraded capacity. That's equivalent to about nine large nuclear power plants. And we look at power uprates in three different categories. We have small uprates that we call measurement uncertainty recapture — a couple percent. Then we have stretch power uprates, which are on the order of 7 to 10% of additional power. And then extended power uprates, which are either up to 20% or perhaps slightly more. So we have a lot of experience doing this. We're using efficiencies and informed approaches, and we are aligning our organization to be able to process these license applications in very reasonable periods of time. We actually have specific mandates for timeliness for our licensing activities that were driven in part by the ADVANCE Act as well as the executive order. And we intend to deliver very timely decisions for uprate activities that we're anticipating.”

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Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “South Carolina knows the value of nuclear energy. In our state, nuclear power is not theoretical. It is very much a tremendous part of the fabric of who we are — it supports our economy, our grid reliability, and certainly our energy future. South Carolina has been a leader for decades in this space, and I think we'll continue to be. In the district I represent, the Robinson Nuclear Plant in Darlington County is a clear example of that value. It supports hundreds of jobs, keeps the lights on across the region, and serves as a major economic anchor in the surrounding community.”

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Congressman Laurel Lee (FL-11): “We are at a pivotal moment for American energy policy as energy demand continues to grow. Congress and the Administration have both taken steps to accelerate the deployment of nuclear technologies through the ADVANCE Act and also recent executive orders. But with that momentum comes a central challenge: ensuring that efforts to increase efficiency and speed do not come at the expense of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's core mission of safety, independence, and public trust. As deployment expands, the NRC's ability to effectively coordinate with partners like the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense, while still maintaining its independent regulatory authority, will be critical.”