United States Senator Lamar Alexander Wednesday said the government funding bill provides $663 million for the Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex -- one of the largest construction sites in the country -- with an overall budget of $6.5 billion and scheduled to be completed in 2025. The bill also provides $639 million for cleanup of former Cold War sites in Oak Ridge, including the Outfall 200 mercury treatment facility.
“This bill makes sure that we are effectively using taxpayer dollars -- it provides $663 million for the Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex, which will continue to keep this project on time and on budget -- with a completion year of 2025 at a cost no greater than $6.5 billion -- and create more jobs for Tennesseans," said Senator Alexander. "Generous funding for this project shows how much Congress recognizes Oak Ridge’s contributions to our country’s national security and economic future. This bill also includes record funding levels for our nuclear weapons programs -- President Trump has said we should modernize and rebuild our nuclear arsenal, and I agree. The bill includes $14.7 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration, including $4 billion to continue the four ongoing life extension programs, which fix or replace components in nuclear weapons systems to make sure they're safe and reliable.”
Senator Alexander -- who is chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee -- said his two Department of Energy defense priorities are modernizing nuclear weapons that are used to help keep Americans safe and cleaning up former Cold War sites. Senator Alexander said he has made a personal commitment to increase funding for cleanup of hazardous materials and facilities at Cold War-era sites in Oak Ridge.
Senator Alexander said, “The bill provides $639 million to accelerate cleanup of hazardous materials and facilities at the East Tennessee Technology Park, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex. This is $141 million above last year's funding level and $125 million above the president's budget request. The funding supports vital investments in a new mercury treatment facility -- also known as Outfall 200 -- which will help reduce the amount of mercury getting into Tennessee waterways to safe levels and make it possible for cleanup work at Y-12 to continue which supports thousands of jobs.”
Senator Alexander spoke at the groundbreaking of the Outfall 200 mercury treatment facility in November.
Senator Alexander said, “The bill also provides $35 million to develop and demonstrate new technologies, of which $5 million will continue to fund a research consortium led by Vanderbilt University. I hope that the Senate passes this bill soon so we can fund these important programs.”
The bill includes:
Provides $14.7 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration, which is a record level of funding for the agency
$663 million for the Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex
$639 million for environmental cleanup of former Cold War sites in Oak Ridge
$17.1 million for the Outfall 200 mercury treatment facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex