The Senate is expected to vote on the confirmation of Douglas Weaver to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission this week.
Senate Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) filed a cloture motion on the nomination of Weaver on Dec. 11. Additionally in the motion, several other nominees are to be considered, including the four Tennessee Valley Authority board nominees of Arthur Graham, Mitch Graves, Jeff Hagood and Randall Jones.
If confirmed, Weaver would become the fifth and final commissioner of the nuclear regulatory agency and will serve a term that is set to expire on June 30, 2026. Weaver’s nomination advanced through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in a 15 – 4 vote last week.
Weaver has pledged to maintain NRC’s independence and prioritize nuclear safety if confirmed as a commissioner.
The TVA board nominees made it through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in a 10 – 9 vote on Oct. 29. During that business meeting, they were favorably voted through that committee with now NRC commissioner Ho Nieh.
While Weaver and the TVA board nominees have the potential to be confirmed this week, the other TVA board nominee, Lee Beaman, still awaits his confirmation vote in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Beaman’s committee vote was postponed during last week’s business meeting. A date has not been set for his committee vote yet.