House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Energy Updates

Sep 17, 2026

Chairman Guthrie Op-Ed: POWER Act puts permitting reform at center of energy affordability

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following op-ed by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, appeared in the Washington Times this week.

“Over the past half-decade, energy prices for Americans have risen.

“This has often forced them to make tough decisions about what other goods and services they can afford. This should not be the norm. Working families deserve access to abundant and reliable energy, giving them flexibility to invest their hard-earned savings in whatever they deem most important.

“That goal is achievable, but not through unworkable electricity rate caps, green energy mandates or data center moratoriums, as we have seen proposed by blue-state governors.

“To lower prices while securing our grid, I have released the POWER Act, draft legislation that provides the commonsense permitting reforms needed to bring baseload energy onto our grid while promoting innovation.

“America’s permitting system is broken. Slow, burdensome and unpredictable review processes have produced an unreliable grid and higher costs for consumers. Manufacturers have been forced to contend with longer construction timelines and higher project costs that put the United States at a competitive disadvantage.

“In Democratic-run states, renewable portfolio standards, which are effectively green energy mandates, undermine the reliability of the grid and increase prices. Meanwhile, federal and state regulations are forcing reliable power to shut down before replacements are ready, creating a reliability crisis.

“Layered on top of these challenges, supply chain constraints and equipment backlogs are also slowing the building of industrial projects that America needs to compete.

“The POWER Act addresses these issues by combining into one piece of legislation the commonsense permitting reforms that America needs to speed up the construction of pipelines, power generation and electric transmission.

“This legislation contains three main pillars: producing energy, moving energy and powering industry to build and grow.

“Producing energy domestically is key to securing American energy dominance. From the outset of this Congress, through related hearings and legislation, our House Energy and Commerce Committee has focused on finding ways to generate the reliable, affordable power that our communities need.

“Last winter, we saw the consequences of relying on intermittent sources such as wind and solar, when New England states were forced to burn trash to keep the lights on after renewables failed to provide enough electricity.

“The Power Plant Reliability Act would help address this issue by empowering the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to keep reliable power plants running for up to five years when retiring them would threaten the grid.

“As we work to build our grid and meet America’s growing power demand, driven partly by the need to support data centers, the POWER Act includes the text of the Ratepayer Protection Act. This section builds on the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, under which Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, xAI and other signers, including utilities and regulators, committed to covering their own data center energy costs.

“While developing the legislation, committee members held hearings and meetings with numerous stakeholders, including the data center industry and Big Tech, state regulators, utilities and community members. Through that work, it has become clear that across the entire industry, one entity is uniquely positioned to stand up for families — the ones paying electricity bills: Congress.

“Modernizing our nation’s infrastructure and building the pipelines needed to carry the oil and natural gas that provide baseload power are critical to lowering prices. That is why this legislation includes the GRID Power Act, which would ensure that grid operators have the tools they need to secure the reliability of the electricity grid in the event of a capacity shortfall.

“Likewise, the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act streamlines permitting for interstate natural gas pipelines at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, supporting the development of dispatchable natural gas to communities across the country.

“Access to affordable, reliable power will be key as we work to increase domestic manufacturing and power innovative new technologies. For too long, burdensome regulations have stood in the way of projects that would help deliver the energy we need.

“That is why the POWER Act includes steps to make the permitting process faster and safer. The bill does this, in part, by streamlining the New Source Review permitting process for companies to upgrade facilities and install modern pollution controls, avoiding delays that would otherwise lead to higher costs.

“Far too often, duplicative reviews slow development while providing no tangible benefits to families. The RED Tape Act ends double reviews of projects by the Environmental Protection Agency if the projects are already vetted under the National Environmental Policy Act.

“Together, these individual measures form the basis for the permitting reform needed to deliver dispatchable baseload power to American families. Permits that take years to acquire slow down development and raise prices for families and businesses.

“The POWER Act cuts through that red tape, helping deliver the energy we need today.”

Sep 16, 2026

Press Release

Ratepayer Protection Act Passes House with Strong Bipartisan Support

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, and Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08), applauded House passage of H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, by a vote of 417 to 3. The legislation would require state public utility commissions to consider a strategy to make data centers pay their own way, instead of passing costs onto American consumers.

“When done responsibly, data center development leads to longer term investments and broader infrastructure improvements in the communities where they’re built. The Ratepayer Protection Act helps to safeguard these benefits by ensuring that the companies who are building data centers—and not American families and small businesses—are paying for the electricity they use,” said Chairman Guthrie. “U.S. leadership in the race to AI dominance is critical to our economic prosperity and national security, so we need to keep building the needed infrastructure with appropriate accountability measures. I'm grateful to Congressman Evans for his tireless work—on a bipartisan basis—to protect ratepayers while ensuring that America continues to lead the world in innovation.”

“I am proud to vote for the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, led by Representative Gabe Evans, which will protect ratepayers from increased electricity costs caused by data centers. Across the country, communities are seeing proposals for new data centers that will bring jobs, investment and new technological capabilities, but also raise important questions about how these facilities will affect local electric grids and the nearby communities,” said Chairman Latta. “One question should have a clear answer: American families should not have to pay higher electricity bills so large technology companies can build and operate data centers. I urge the Senate to swiftly consider this legislation and send it to the President’s desk.”

“Hardworking families should not have to subsidize the energy demands of data centers. America needs the infrastructure to lead the world in AI and outcompete Communist China, but we cannot have that growth at the expense of hardworking families, farmers, seniors, and small businesses,” said Congressman Evans. “My bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act ensures large data centers pay for the infrastructure they require while giving states the flexibility to determine what works best for their communities. I’m incredibly proud to lead the charge on this pivotal issue, ensure our ratepayers are protected, and keep American innovation moving forward.”

BACKGROUND:

H.R. 9340 would protect consumers from rate increases resulting from data center construction by having state utility commissions consider large-load standards for data centers drawing more than 100 MW of power, which would ensure they pay for the full incremental costs to serve their loads.
By drawing on existing Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act authorities (Sec. 111(d)), this light touch approach provides a federal recommendation while preserving state power to regulate electricity markets, drawing on what 24 states are already doing to protect residential homes and small businesses.
By establishing large-load standards, states can ensure that American families are not left footing the bill for AI data center growth, while still encouraging industry growth.

Sep 16, 2026

Press Release

WTAS: The Ratepayer Protection Act Safeguards Hardworking Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, today highlighted widespread support for the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require state public utility commissions to consider a strategy to make data centers pay their own way, instead of passing costs onto American consumers.

Don’t miss what ratepayer advocates are saying:

Matt Chase, CEO and Executive Director, National Association of Counties:

“The rapidly expanding data center industry presents significant challenges to counties from rising power and water demands, complex land use challenges, and evolving tax implications. The Ratepayer Protection Act reinforces that while grid investments and infrastructure upgrades are necessary to meet rising energy demands, the financial burden should not fall on counties or individual ratepayers. Counties thank Rep. Evans and Rep. Castor for introducing this bipartisan legislation that will provide greater certainty and transparency to counties and ratepayers about the costs associated with increased energy needs and urge its swift passage.”

Clarence Anthony, CEO and Executive Director, National League of Cities:

“The National League of Cities supports efforts from House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta, Congressman Gabe Evans and Congresswoman Kathy Castor to reduce energy cost burdens on communities and ratepayers. As energy affordability concerns grow and as local leaders are grappling with what data center development is best for their community, we applaud Congressional efforts to ensure that new energy infrastructure costs and generation related to data centers are not passed onto households, small businesses and communities.”

David Terry, President, National Association of State Energy Officials:

“The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) endorses HR 9340, the ‘Ratepayer Protection Act.’ NASEO represents the 56 governor-designated State and Territory Energy Offices across the nation, and we support a balanced national energy policy. HR 9340 is carefully crafted legislation which does not mandate a specific approach in each state and instead calls for state ‘consideration’ of a standard for large-load data centers that results in data centers paying the full, incremental costs of electric system upgrades. The amendments to 111(d) and 112 of PURPA constitute a practical approach to a difficult problem.”

Statement from the America First Policy Institute:

“Large new electricity customers should pay their own way, without additional costs falling on American families and small businesses. Provisions in the Ratepayer Protection Act reflect this. These provisions create a process for state regulators to consider standards to ensure large-load customers cover incremental grid costs. Protecting ratepayers while expanding reliable, affordable power is essential to American leadership in AI.”

Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity:

“To be clear, the condition of the grid does not preclude action by Congress—rather, it necessitates it. Governors, localities, and states across the country, on both sides of the aisle, increasingly recognize the need to reform respective permitting processes to meet growing energy demands. These same state and local leaders are now calling on Congress to act at the federal level...[W]e urge your support for the...Ratepayer Protection Act (Reps. Evans (CO) and Castor), to require certain load amounts to cover costs affiliated with grid buildout.”

Sep 15, 2026

Press Release

Chairman Latta Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Energy Hearing on Affordable Nuclear Energy to Power America

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 America’s nuclear fuel policy in support of American energy dominance.

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

“Today the Energy Subcommittee will examine the Department of Energy’s work to develop what are called Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses.

“These campuses represent a new and fresh effort by DOE and the Administration to [quote] ‘transform the nuclear fuel cycle.’

“The program intends to support the nation’s nuclear policy ambitions as well as to begin to address the federal government’s statutory responsibility for disposal of nuclear waste.

“This involves taking spent fuel from reactors around the nation to a state that volunteers to host the campus, where the fuel can be stored, recycled, and related waste disposed.

“When it comes to increasing reprocessing, my view is: it is about time. Our policy should be to use our technological abilities to take fuller advantage of the remaining usefulness of spent fuel—and this, in turn, reduces the waste that must be placed in a permanent repository.

“Maximizing the remaining energy and other useful isotopes from spent fuel presents an attractive financial incentive for taking a more wholistic look at the full fuel cycle.

“This explains why six states so far are stepping up to negotiate how to develop, in partnership with DOE, lifecycle innovation campuses.

“And, as we will hear this morning, it may well offer a workable path for updating our nuclear waste policy.

“But of course, there is a long way to go to develop durable state agreements—and durability is key.

“The idea of consolidating spent fuel from sites under a federal program with voluntary host states is not a new one.

“Congress authorized a nuclear waste negotiator to set up something like that in the early 1990s. For various reasons, that did not work out—as have other efforts with respect to attracting durable state support.

“What must be done differently this time around?

“There are also commercial and economic realities when it comes to our fuel cycle that factor into what may eventually develop.

“This hearing will help us identify what Congress must do to enable continued work on these campuses, given their potential.

“Our focus should be on policies that complement existing law—and the designated federal disposal site at Yucca Mountain—and protect the interests of ratepayers and taxpayers under that law. This means not rushing to restart fees on nuclear power generation or irresponsibly raiding the nuclear waste fund.

“We should not forget that our bi-partisan legislative work in 2018 provided substantial changes to the law that would have incentivized completion of the Yucca license, enhanced host state benefits, and accelerated the type of program envisioned in the current proposal.

“Those reforms passed the House by a vote of 340-72. Unfortunately, politics obstructed the potential for the reforms.

“Perhaps with tremendous new support of nuclear in recent years means we’re in a different place today.

“We will take testimony from two panels.

“On the first panel, we will hear from the Department of Energy. Assistant Secretary of Energy Ted Garrish, who heads the Office of Nuclear Energy and can explain the program, state interactions, and what Congress may do to help enable its progress forward.

“Our second panel will provide perspective from key stakeholders.

“We will hear from Stacy Paradis, an Illinois public utility commissioner speaking on behalf of NARUC. Electric ratepayers, under the law, are responsible for paying for the ultimate disposal of nuclear waste and she can speak to the importance of protecting ratepayer funding and the nuclear waste fund.

“Maria Korsnick will provide the perspective of the Nuclear Energy Institute on the fuel cycle, and on the policies surrounding storage and disposition of spent nuclear fuel.

“Jared des Rosiers (day-roe-sher), will speak on behalf of the Decommissioned Plants Coalition, which represents closed nuclear plants that continue to store spent fuel.

“And, finally, Greg White, also a former state utility commissioner, will provide the perspective of the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition, which represents a range of stakeholders that seek to get our nuclear waste policy back on track.

“We welcome the witnesses and I yield back the balance of my time.”

Sep 15, 2026

Press Release

Energy Subcommittee Holds Hearing to Discuss Affordable Nuclear Energy to Power American Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, led a hearing titled Nuclear Spent Fuel Policy: Examining Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses.

“Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses represent a new effort by the Department of Energy and the Administration to ‘transform the nuclear fuel cycle.’ The program intends to support the nation’s nuclear policy ambitions as well as begin to address the federal government’s statutory responsibility for disposal of nuclear waste,” said Chairman Latta*. “This involves taking spent fuel from reactors around the nation to a campus where the fuel can be stored, recycled, and related waste disposed. When it comes to increasing reprocessing, my view is: it is about time.”*

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

09.15 Fry.png

Congressman Russell Fry (SC-01): “I think there's a tremendous opportunity to strengthen America's domestic nuclear fuel cycle, encourage private investment, and find innovative solutions to our longstanding spent fuel challenge. The administration's campus initiative has the potential to advance all three of those. As this effort moves forward, Congress has an important role in ensuring the Nuclear Waste Fund continues to support its intended disposal mission, while also identifying the right mix of federal, state, and private investment to support the broader activities envisioned by these campuses.”

09.15 Pfluger.png

Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11): “We want to see this life cycle become much more efficient and used properly. I believe you when you say we could quadruple the electrons nuclear energy produces from the current 20% of our usage. Demand is going to keep growing, and nuclear has a big piece in that. We want to see this industry flourish, because it's a gift we have. Obviously, there are concerns in West Texas about storing high-level waste in and around oil and gas production. So let's find a solution that lets that material be used before it gets to that point.” Assistant Secretary Garrish: “I'm with you. The future of nuclear is almost unlimited. This is homegrown energy, and it can be affordable and reliable. This is what we need.”

09.15 Allen.png

Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12): “As we work to expand nuclear energy capabilities in the United States, it's imperative that we address the management of spent nuclear fuel. That is critical. My district is home to Plant Vogtle, the largest commercial nuclear energy plant in the U.S. My district is also next to the Savannah River Site, and both of those facilities house spent nuclear fuel. So managing spent nuclear fuel is very important to my district and to the states of Georgia and South Carolina. The administration has proposed innovation campuses, and I'd like to discuss that proposal with you. Ms. Paradis and Ms. Korsnick, how important is it to show that reprocessing technologies can be commercially viable in the United States without federal subsidies like the ones we see in France?” Commissioner Paradis: “Thank you for the question. As I noted before, I'm representing an association here, so I can only speak to the resolutions we've passed. We haven't had a lot of discussion yet, because these campuses are so new. What I can speak to is what we know up to this point. As my colleagues on the panel have said today, any type of reprocessing or recycling always leaves additional waste. And as Ms. Korsnick correctly pointed out, as we start working with different technologies, we end up with all kinds of different types of waste and different storage technologies. So going forward, yes, we have to understand what's economically viable, what's environmentally sound, and what is safe and reasonable for our communities. But from a regulator's perspective, what matters is the commitment that was made from the beginning. Our ratepayers, the customers who get power from nuclear energy, have paid into this fund, and they have gotten nothing in return. As I said, they've paid $20 billion into the fund, and it now holds more than $51 billion. So right now, the priority is understanding what happens next with the waste and how it is managed, including transportation and storage on the way to permanent disposal. However, these other new opportunities are coming, and they should definitely be evaluated.”

Sep 14, 2026

Press Release

RESCHEDULED: Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Announce Hearing to Support Affordable Nuclear Energy to Power America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, announced a hearing titled, “Nuclear Spent Fuel Policy: Examining Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses.”

“For decades, nuclear energy has provided Americans with safe, reliable, and affordable power. As our nation continues to unleash this critical energy source, it’s vital that we modernize our fuel cycle to secure energy dominance,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “The Department of Energy is working to achieve this by considering the establishment of Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, which may offer the potential to co-locate fuel cycle activities including fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing, and waste disposal alongside advanced reactors, manufacturing facilities, or even data centers. This hearing will provide our Members with the opportunity to examine how these campuses can support innovation, while helping to deliver reliable baseload energy in the years ahead.”

Subcommittee on Energy hearing titled Nuclear Spent Fuel Policy: Examining Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses

WHAT: Subcommittee on Energy hearing to discuss nuclear fuel policy in support of American energy dominance

DATE: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

NEW TIME: 10:15 AM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Seth Ricketts with the Committee staff at Seth.Ricketts@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Ben Mullany at Ben.Mullany@mail.house.gov.

Sep 8, 2026

Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Latta Announce Hearing to Support Affordable Nuclear Energy to Power America

“For decades, nuclear energy has provided Americans with safe, reliable, and affordable power. As our nation continues to unleash this critical energy source, it’s vital that we modernize our fuel cycle to secure energy dominance,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Latta. “The Department of Energy is working to achieve this by considering the establishment of Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, which will co-locate fuel cycle activities including fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing, and waste disposal alongside potential advanced reactors, manufacturing, or data centers. This hearing will provide our Members with the opportunity to examine how these campuses can support innovation, while helping to deliver reliable baseload energy in the years ahead.”

Subcommittee on Energy hearing titled Nuclear Spent Fuel Policy: Examining Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses

WHAT: Subcommittee on Energy hearing to discuss nuclear fuel policy in support of American energy dominance

DATE: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

TIME: 10:00 AM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Aug 31, 2026

Press Release

Chairman Guthrie Announces Full Committee Markup of 10 Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, announced a Full Committee markup of 10 bills to cut burdensome red tape, lower costs for hardworking families, and unleash reliable nuclear energy.

WHAT: Full Committee markup

DATE: Wednesday, September 2, 2026

TIME: 10:00 AM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Items to be considered:

H.R. 3978, Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act (Reps. Latta and Peters)
H.R. 9612, American Enrichment Deployment Act (Reps. Fry and Schrier)
H.R. 5549, Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act (Reps. Griffith and Schrier)
H.R. 9613, Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act (Rep. Harshbarger)
H.R. 9614, NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act (Rep. Menendez)
H.R. 9084, Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act (Reps. Castor and Miller-Meeks)
H.R. 2140, Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025 (Reps. Matsui and Langworthy)
H.R. 3194, Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives (LOCOMOTIVES) Act (Rep. Moolenaar)
H.R. 9317, Buses Utilizing Safety and Environmental Standards (BUSES) Act (Reps. Langworthy and Gottheimer)
H.R. 9615, Battery Recycling for America’s Competitive Economy (BRACE) Act (Rep. Miller-Meeks)

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The markup will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Jessica Donlon with the Committee staff at Jessica.Donlon@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Matt VanHyfte at Matt.VanHyfte@mail.house.gov.

Jul 14, 2026

Press Release

Energy Subcommittee Advances Six Bills to Support Safe and Reliable Nuclear Power

WASHINGTON, D.C.* - Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, led a markup of six bills.

"In today's markup, the Subcommittee on Energy considered six pieces of legislation to improve the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's licensing process and Department of Energy nuclear reporting, which will help maintain momentum for U.S. nuclear deployment," said Chairman Latta. "A robust and growing American nuclear industry is vital to meet our nation's rapidly increasing energy demand. A resilient nuclear supply chain is critical for U.S. economic, energy and national security."

Legislative Vote Summary:

H.R. 3978, Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee, as amended, by voice vote.
H.R. 9612, American Enrichment Deployment Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee, by voice vote.
H.R. 5549, Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee, by voice vote.
H.R. 9613, Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee, by voice vote.
H.R. 9614, NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee, by voice vote.
H.R. 9084, Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee, as amended, by voice vote.

Watch the full markup here.
Below are key excerpts from today's markup:

Congresswoman Harshbarger on H.R. 9613, the Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act: "There's a new wave of technologies on the horizon that would still benefit from Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards independent review and advice. H.R. 9613 preserves the ACRS role and focuses its work where it will provide the greatest value for the NRC and the public. It would amend the Atomic Energy Act to direct that the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards focus on issues that are directly related to reactor design, safety-significant, and novel, and that have not been previously acted upon by the Committee."

Congressman Fry on H.R. 9612, the American Enrichment Deployment Act: "This bill would amend the Atomic Energy Act to remove unnecessary provisions for licensing enrichment facilities, so that the licensing aligns with the more efficient framework for other nuclear fuel cycle facilities-namely uranium conversion and fuel fabrication. All of these fuel cycle facilities are more akin to industrial chemical facilities than to nuclear reactors, and are therefore subject to an efficient, one-step licensing process for the possession and use of the special nuclear material that the NRC regulates."

Congressman Balderson on H.R. 5549, the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act: "This bill amends the Atomic Energy Act to remove the requirement for the NRC to expend resources on unnecessary hearings. Under current law, the NRC must hold mandatory, uncontested hearings on applications for construction permits, operating licenses, and licenses to possess or use special nuclear material. Yet, NRC staff and commissioners already offer more than 20 opportunities for the public and affected parties to be heard in the licensing process for new reactors. Removing this mandatory hearing would in no way impact the right of anyone whose interests are affected by the licensing to request a hearing on specific matters."