Surface Transportation Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. PAUL. Madam President, reserving the right to object, I would like to accommodate the President and these nominees. I think the chairman, the distinguished Senator from New Mexico, has made very good points about their qualifications. But I would be remiss if I did not rise in support of 1,200 jobs in Paducah, KY, which are threatened to be lost because the Department of Energy is refusing to address the situation.

We have a company that has 1,200 jobs in Paducah, KY, which enriches uranium. For 50 years uranium has been accumulating, and it sits on the ground as a waste product. We could recycle this. It is a green project. It costs no taxes. In fact, it will actually bring back money to the Treasury.

What I would like is help from the chairman as well as the President as well as Secretary Chu on this issue. I have written to Secretary Chu, and we have not heard back. This is very important to us. We are in the midst of a great recession, and 1,200 people are destined to lose their jobs. Once again, this does not cause any spending. It does not cost any taxes. Actually, if you would allow us to

reenrich this uranium, it would bring money back to the Treasury. That is my reason for holding this. I would hope that we could find some reason and means to accommodate each other.

Until that time, I would continue to object to these nominations.

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Mr. PAUL. Madam President, in response to that question, yes. The government owns the uranium. It has been sitting there for 50 years. It is my understanding that the Department of Energy or the President could at any time sign a statement saying that uranium can be enriched.

It is completely under his prerogative and 1,200 jobs could be saved. These are good-paying jobs. Many of these are union jobs. These are people I would like to help in my State. It does not cost the government anything. It does not cost the taxpayers anything. In fact, it uses a waste product that is sitting on the ground. We had an agreement. We have worked with United Uranium Mine Workers. We have worked with Senators and Congressmen from different States to try to get this figured out. But all it takes is a signature from the Department of Energy to allow them to enrich this uranium.

The Defense Department has written statements saying they could use this uranium. The GAO has said this is the best use of this waste product. But I believe the Secretary of Energy, through a stroke of the pen, could save these 1,200 jobs. That is what I am asking for help with.

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Mr. PAUL. Madam President, this is my only objection. If the Senator were to help me save these 1,200 jobs, we would erect a monument to him in Kentucky. This is a big deal for us. It does not cost anything. I would do everything within my power to make sure there is no objection on our side. I think it is the President's prerogative. I will help facilitate this process as soon as possible. This would be huge for us in Kentucky if we could save these jobs.

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