ANS Nuclear Policy Wire March 11, 2019

March 11, 2019

DOE Nominations on Hold in Senate Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) announced today that she has placed holds on all pending Department of Energy (DOE) nominees, which includes Dr. Barnawal to be assistant secretary of nuclear energy.  Her reasoning is based upon DOE's shipment of plutonium to the state of Nevada.   "Until I've gotten commitment from Energy Secretary Perry that his agency will stop any further shipment and set a date for the removal of the plutonium already in the state, I will be putting a hold on all DOE nominees," said Cortez Masto.   The hold would require Senate Republican leaders to use precious floor time to debate and take roll call votes on the DOE nominees in order to move their confirmations across the finish line.