Democracy Rules

Federal regulations require energy companies to report accidents that result in loss of life or $50,000 in damage. Between 1952 and 2009, there were 56 of these accidents at our nuclear power plants, including the 1979 Three Mile Island disaster. Another 99 nuclear accidents have occurred in other countries since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster which killed 30 people, forever contaminated miles of Ukrainian real estate, and caused at least $7 billion in damages. Japan’s 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster resulted in 3 reactors melting down, airborne radioactive contaminates spread throughout the region, and continuing efforts to bring this catastrophe under complete control 12 years later. Although there may be relatively few immediate fatalities from nuclear power plant accidents, health advocates warn that many people exposed to radiation during and after these events are likely to get sick later in life. As we have constructed few nuclear plants in the past 30 years, our nation’s outdated power plants are older designs like those at Fukushima – and presumably just as dangerous.

Advocates claim the Fukushima disaster shows how little time there is for citizens to react to an escalating nuclear emergency and how important it is for local communities to be prepared for such an event. They also claim Japan’s chaotic attempts to use untried and untested methods to bring their reactors under control show how important it is for industry and government entities to be prepared as well. They say that, unlike Japan, we must prepare for nuclear plant emergencies before one may occur.

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.1700 - Nuclear Disaster Preparedness Act (113th Congress 2013-2014)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Mike Levin (CA)

I oppose reforming current nuclear energy plant accident policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA).
I support directing the President to issue guidance on the federal response to any nuclear power plant disaster by: 1.) Designating the single federal agency responsible for coordinating the government's efforts in response to a nuclear disaster, including making a formal declaration that a nuclear disaster exists. 2.) Designating the single agency responsible for recommending the evacuation of the area within a 10-mile to 50-mile radius from the nuclear power plant. 3.) Designating the single agency responsible for developing plans for educating the public on conducting such evacuation. 4.) Designating the single agency responsible for recommending that evacuees may return following a nuclear disaster. 5.) Designating the single agency responsible for conducting cleanup of a nuclear disaster 6.) Identifying what cleanup standards will apply. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Mike Levin (CA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Winning Option »» I support directing the President to issue guidance on the federal response to any nuclear power plant disaster by: 1.) Designating the single federal agency responsible for coordinating the government's efforts in response to a nuclear disaster, including making a formal declaration that a nuclear disaster exists. 2.) Designating the single agency responsible for recommending the evacuation of the area within a 10-mile to 50-mile radius from the nuclear power plant. 3.) Designating the single agency responsible for developing plans for educating the public on conducting such evacuation. 4.) Designating the single agency responsible for recommending that evacuees may return following a nuclear disaster. 5.) Designating the single agency responsible for conducting cleanup of a nuclear disaster 6.) Identifying what cleanup standards will apply. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Mike Levin (CA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.