By Shelly Baskin
Paducah, KY – A bill is progressing in both chambers of Congress to allow the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant to re-enrich spent Uranium stored at the plant. The Senate bill sponsored by Republicans Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul has moved through committee and now awaits action by the full Senate. The legislation passed the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power in July. The bill asks the Department of Energy to determine if re-enriching the 40,000 containers of depleted uranium "tails" is economically feasible. Senators Paul and McConnell say the process would secure existing jobs, decrease waste and create income to fund continued clean-up at the site. If the Senate passes the bill, the DOE would be required to report back to the committee by December 31st.