WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) said he was pleased the year-end funding bill Congress will soon vote on provides funding for the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS).

One of Senator Graham’s highest priorities in this year’s appropriations process was to overcome the Obama Administration’s poorly conceived efforts to cancel the MOX program. At Graham’s request and through his work in the Senate Appropriations Committee, this year’s appropriation bill contains $340 million in support of the construction and eventual operation of the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility at the SRS.

“This is a big, big win for the Savannah River Site,” said Graham. “There has been a lot of anxiety and uncertainty in the community about the program’s future, particularly after the Obama Administration tried to cancel the program, which would have left South Carolina stuck with several tons of weapons grade plutonium. This funding will hopefully help alleviate some of those concerns.”

Graham has been a long-time proponent of the MOX program which will turn surplus weapons-grade plutonium into nuclear fuel to power a commercial nuclear reactor. For years, the Obama Administration has exercised poor oversight over MOX and has sought to terminate the program regardless of the consequences to our nation’s nonproliferation concerns or the interests of South Carolina. Senator Graham’s priority is to meet our nation’s national security objectives and to move the material out of South Carolina.

“I also want to thank my friends and South Carolina colleagues, Joe Wilson and Tim Scott,” said Graham. “They, along with the members of the appropriations committee, understand the importance of this program to the local community, state of South Carolina, and our nation. They were instrumental in helping us move the ball forward toward our goal.”

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