Donalds Named Vice Chair of Advanced Nuclear Caucus

Byron Donalds

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) was been selected to serve as the Vice Chair of the Advanced Nuclear Caucus. Recently, Rep. Donalds has been very positive about the energy source, citing it as a clean, efficient way to provide power to millions across the country.

Moreover, with the recent breakthrough that occurred in which nuclear fusion was achieved, the prospect of nuclear energy becoming the main energy source could be on the horizon.

Donalds stated that “I am honored to be named a Vice Chair of the Advanced Nuclear Caucus for the 118th Congress, to raise awareness about the challenges facing the nuclear industry and promote the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, fuel cycles, and technologies.”

Despite nuclear energy being a zero-emission energy source, there is still hesitancy to accept it due to previous disasters such as the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters and natural antagonism from both oil and green energy lobbies.

However, there is growing bipartisan support for nuclear energy in Congress. Just a couple of weeks ago, a group of Representatives wrote and signed a letter to the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to stress the importance of nuclear energy funding.

“Members of Congress in both parties have embraced nuclear energy for its inherent role in eliminating carbon emissions, and its intrinsic natural advantages as an alternative energy source,” said the legislators.

Donalds, who is not a stranger to this field (he’s served on the Energy and Commerce Committee in the past), states that his interest as the vice chair is to make sure that Congress is made aware of the challenges that the nuclear energy sector faces and to act upon fixing those challenges.

“I am honored to be named a Vice Chair of the Advanced Nuclear Caucus for the 118th Congress, to raise awareness about the challenges facing the nuclear industry and promote the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, fuel cycles, and technologies,” stated Donalds.

At the beginning of the year, Rep. Donalds was nominated by the Freedom Caucus Republicans to be the next Speaker of the House. It eventually went to current Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).