Washington, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham praised the House Energy and Commerce Committee's important progress on moving toward reauthorization of the Price-Anderson Act, legislation outlining compensation measures for victims of nuclear victims.

"I want to strongly commend Chairman Tauzin and the Committee for making reauthorization of the Price Anderson Act a priority," Secretary Abraham said. "Congress should move quickly to schedule final action on this important legislative item, a key legislative proposal included in the President's National Energy Policy issued last May."

"I urge the House to complete action to reauthorize this legislation by the end of November and I urge the Senate to begin to act on this important legislation in an expeditious manner."

The Price-Anderson Act was enacted in 1957 to ensure prompt compensation to the victims of nuclear accidents and promote the development of commercial nuclear power. The Congress has reauthorized the Price-Anderson Act on three separate occasions. It is set to expire in August 2002.

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