The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted 15 – 4 Wednesday morning in favor of the renomination of Nuclear Regulatory Commission member Doug Weaver.
Weaver, who was confirmed by the Senate in December, was renominated by President Donald Trump on Jan. 29 to serve a new term that will expire on June 30, 2031. Weaver took over for former commissioner Annie Caputo, whose term was set to expire on June 30.
After initially being nominated to succeed Caputo, Weaver advanced out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in December, also in a 15 – 4 vote.
Ranking Democrat Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who supported Weaver’s initial nomination, said he will also back Weaver’s renomination. Nevertheless, Whitehouse said he “will keep a close watch on conditions at the agency.”
Weaver’s renomination comes at a time where NRC is undergoing a reorganization and working on a wholesale revision of its regulations, which was ordered by President Trump, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said.
“As a member of the Commission, Commissioner Weaver will be integral to the decisions impacting the future of our energy sector and we have confidence in his expertise and fitness for the role,” Cramer said in his opening remarks.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) was not in attendance for the meeting.