Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417 or Lorcan Connick (202) 224-5972

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the status of layoffs at the MOX facility at Savannah River Site (SRS).

Graham, who has been outspoken in his opposition to the Obama Administration's planned decision to put the facility in ‘cold standby,' spoke with Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz about the program last night. Graham has and continues to work with a bipartisan coalition of Senators and House members to support the MOX program to dispose of 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium.

Graham said:

"Last night, I spoke with the Secretary of Energy who committed to continue construction of the MOX facility through the end of this fiscal year which ends September 30.

"I thank the Secretary for reversing course. This is the right decision for the program, the Site, and the employees working on the program at SRS.

"In the short term, this decision will save thousands of jobs. However, there is still a long, arduous fight ahead. The Secretary's announcement does not change the fact the President's FY15 budget submission to Congress places the MOX program in cold standby.

"As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will work to ensure the Obama Administration's FY15 budget request does not become a reality.

"As a long-time supporter of the MOX program, I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate and House, Republican and Democrat, to push the MOX program forward."

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