Senate Passes Fire Safety, Nuclear Permitting Package

Before the chamber gaveled out on Tuesday, senators unanimously passed legislation to reauthorize a series of fire safety grant programs and the U.S. Wildfire Administration. The bill also contains a bipartisan package of nuclear-focused provisions that seek to streamline the nuclear licensing process and bolster the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) workforce, among other things. Senate Democrats also attempted to move legislation that seeks to ban firearm “bump stocks,” but the bill did not advance due to GOP opposition. For today, senators will close out the week with votes on the nominations of Stephanie Sanders Sullivan to be a Representative to the African Union, as well as Nancy Maldonado to be a U.S. Circuit Judge. Today’s votes will be the last ones in the upper chamber until after the July Fourth state work period. Meanwhile, the House will return for legislative business next Tuesday to begin consideration of the fiscal year (FY) 2025 spending bills for Defense, Homeland Security, and State-Foreign Operations.