Supporters of completing the nuclear waste disposal facility at Yucca Mountain, Nev., will propose an amendment that would add $25 million to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's budget for licensing activities.
Amendment sponsor John Shimkus (R-Ill.) said last week that it would simply set aside funds for license adjudication, which he noted would allow the state of Nevada to challenge the underlying science.
"It's not shoveling dirt," he told E&E News last week, referencing the opposition of Nevada Democrats, who with the help of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) helped keep Yucca money from being added to the bill in committee.
It's unclear whether that opposition will be enough to prevent a floor vote on the bill, which Yucca supporters say would likely pass with wide bipartisan support.
Simpson said he does not expect Democrats to even allow a floor vote on Yucca, given leadership's desire to protect House Democrats from the Silver State from any chance of the facility getting built.
"It'll have to come from the Senate side; I think Nancy [Pelosi] has them pretty much locked down," he added.