Senate Panel Advances David Wright as Nuclear Regulatory Chair

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday voted to advance to the full Senate Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair David Wright’s renomination to the agency.

Wright was appointed chair by President Donald Trump in January, with his term set to expire on June 30. The Senate Environment and Public Works panel held a hearing to consider Wright’s nomination on June 25.

Democrats during that hearing condemned several of Trump’s moves, including removing the previous NRC chairman, Chris Hanson, from the commission earlier in June. They also questioned how independent the NRC can remain following Hanson’s departure and a May ...