SENATE POISED TO TAKE UP DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

The Senate is poised to begin debate this week on its version of the Fiscal Year 2014 Defense Authorization Act. As early as today, the chamber could vote on a cloture motion that would allow it to take up the bill, and Senate leaders have suggested it could take this week, and perhaps until Thanksgiving, to clear the bill. Late last week, Senators began filing amendments that could be taken up, including one dealing with USEC’s American Centrifuge Plant. In an amendment proposed to be filed, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) moved to add a line to the bill under a section on the non-proliferation strategy by the U.S. government stating that it “addresses issues relating to the ability of the United States to support non-proliferation goals through domestic, nuclear fuel cycle capabilities using technology of United States origin.” USEC supporters have said that a domestic source of enrichment such as ACP is necessary to provide a supply of enriched uranium for tritium production.