[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)] [House] [Page H7760] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] H.R. 5866, THE NERD ACT (Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.) Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, by 2030, America's energy needs will increase by 40 percent, and our nuclear power plants are, on average, 30 years old and are nearing the end of their life cycles. We need more energy. The Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act, which passed the House last night, accelerates the development of small, pre-made reactors that can be built in factories and shipped to sites at a fraction of the cost. Today, a typical nuclear power plant costs $10 billion, takes 5 years to build, and produces more than 1,100 megawatts. Small reactors cost $750 million, which can be quickly added to the grid and shipped into the place. We need energy independence; but to rebuild our economy, we need products that can be developed here, built in our factories, and sold all over the world; or we can keep sending our dollars to OPEC. This year, the U.S. will buy $350 billion of foreign oil; and for roughly 1 day's worth of oil purchased from a foreign country, this bill invests in the technology that produces these new energy plants. The stimulus bill gave us windmills made in China. Let's not repeat that mistake. If we don't do this in the USA, other countries can and will make them and ship them here. Let's support U.S. jobs for U.S. energy. I urge the Senate to quickly adopt H.R. 5866. ____________________