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Washington
– U.S.
Senator
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
was
joined
by
fellow
members
of
the
South
Carolina
congressional
delegation
today
in
asking
the
U.S.
Department
of
Energy
to
follow
through
on
its
commitment
to
South
Carolina
and
the
mixed
oxide
(MOX)
fuel
fabrication
facility
at
Savannah
River
Site.
The
delegation
sent
a
letter
to
Department
of
Energy
Secretary
Ernest
Moniz
asking
him
to
ensure
the
administration
funds
the
completion
of
the
MOX
facility
in
order
to
uphold
a
longstanding
international
agreement
to
dispose
of
68
metric
tons
of
weapons
grade
nuclear
material
while
responsibly
managing
taxpayer
dollars.
Senator
Scott
and
his
colleagues
also
invited
Secretary
Moniz
to
visit
Savannah
River
Site
for
a
firsthand
account
of
the
need
to
finish
the
facility
and
begin
operations.
In
addition
to
Senator
Scott,
the
letter
was
signed
by
Senator
Lindsey
Graham
and
Congressmen
Jim
Clyburn,
Joe
Wilson,
Jeff
Duncan,
Trey
Gowdy,
Mick
Mulvaney,
and
Tom
Rice.
The
letter
reads,
“As
you
are
aware,
the
President’s
Fiscal
Year
2014
budget
proposes
significant
cuts
to
the
MOX
program,
which
if
enacted
undermines
America’s
ability
to
uphold
the
PMDA,
abandons
our
international
commitment
to
dispose
of
68
metric
tons
of
weapons
grade
plutonium,
places
additional
burdens
on
the
taxpayer
that
could
reach
over
$1
billion,
and
violates
commitments
made
to
the
state
of
South
Carolina.
“On
August
9,
2013,
the
Aiken
Standard
reported
the
projected
500
layoffs
at
the
MOX
facility
will
cost
$42
million
from
the
annual
payroll
in
five
local
counties.
There
is
no
question
the
lost
jobs
and
economic
activity
in
the
region
due
to
cuts
to
the
MOX
program
will
have
significant
and
far
reaching
consequences
throughout
all
five
impacted
counties.”
“With
this
unfortunate
news
in
mind,
we
would
like
to
take
this
opportunity
to
extend
an
official
invitation
to
visit
SRS
in
person
to
see
firsthand
the
critical
programs
underway
at
SRS
that
rely
on
support
from
the
Department
of
Energy.
This
visit
will
give
you
an
opportunity
to
gain
a
better
appreciation
of
not
only
the
work
being
done
at
SRS
but
also
the
site’s
significance
to
the
surrounding
communities,
and
provide
vital
insight
to
the
Administration
as
we
work
together
to
achieve
appropriate
funding
levels
to
complete
the
missions
at
SRS,
which
includes
upholding
the
PMDA
and
following
through
on
America’s
international
commitments
to
dispose
of
weapons
grade
plutonium.”
A
copy
of
the
letter
is
attached.
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