Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe’s strong support for expanded nuclear power in the U.S. might be because of the knowledge and expertise of Annie Caputo, a Biden nominee to be Commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
That’s because Caputo was a long-time staff member for the Senator when he chaired the Senate Energy and Public Works Committee. She was a close adviser to the Senator of things related to nuclear energy.
So he had the honors during a recent committee hearing concerning the nominations of Caputo and Bradley R. Crowell to be NRC members.
Caputo, previous staff member of Inhofe and Commissioner for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission [NRC] from 2018 until 2021, holds tremendous knowledge and expertise on nuclear issues.
Here’s how the Senator introduced Caputo.
Thank you, Chairman Carper. Yes, I think I win the prize for having introduced our star today more than anybody else has, but not with all of her family here and present. Thank you, both of you, for the opportunity to introduce Annie once more to this committee.
Annie is no stranger to this committee, everyone is aware of that, or to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission [NRC], as she served on my staff for many years and previously served as an NRC Commissioner from 2018 until 2021.
I have noticed , Annie, you have your husband here, AJ, as he’s already been mentioned as someone we have known for a long period of time, and your son, Owen, who is 17, and your daughter, Abby. Now this is very important, because I was here when Abby was born, 13 years ago. She’s even more beautiful today, than she was then.
Let me say this—I remember the whole family. Annie joined my EPW staff in 2007 and served for a short period of time on the SASC staff this past year. No one questions Annie’s knowledge or expertise on nuclear issues. It’s always interesting to me when you have a meeting such as this, where the idea is to sell the individual to the members of this Committee, when she is, without question, one of the really great experts in this subject area.
As I’ve said before, back when I was chairman of EPW, her expertise was invaluable to me in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident, as well as my work to ensure the NRC issued timely decisions on new nuclear plant licenses, and in developing the bipartisan Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act.
I enjoy having you back again, so I can learn a little bit more. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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