Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) introduced the Thorium Energy Security Act, which he says would prevent the destruction of Uranium 233 (U-233), a critical element used in nuclear power.

Tuberville was joined by U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in introducing the bill.

In the press release, the senators emphasize the need for the bill, explaining, “Under the Obama administration, the Department of Energy transferred our thorium technology to China in a cooperative agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences…Given its many benefits, the case to preserve the United States supply of U-233 is of national importance. The Thorium Energy Security Act will immediately halt the Department of Energy’s program to destroy uranium 233, saving this vital national asset for future study, medical research, and clean energy.”

Tuberville highlighted how this issue was not just about the future of American energy but also about national security.

“Thorium and U-233 hold the promise to produce clean, safe power and are vital to our national security. Energy will continue to be at the heart of global conflicts, so the United States must invest in energy technology,” Tuberville said. “China clearly saw the value in our thorium research—they’ve taken up where we left off, and we may soon see thorium-powered Chinese aircraft carriers and thorium reactors on the Belt & Road courtesy of American technology.”

Marshall added that nuclear energy was vital to America’s clean energy future.

“Uranium-233 is too valuable and too useful to just be thrown in the trash, a fact that the Chinese Communist Party understands but our Department of Energy clearly does not. While we are spending millions of dollars to destroy U-233, the CCP is investing in it by preparing to build a new generation of advanced aircraft carriers and nuclear reactors powered by U-233,” advised Marshall. “The United States needs to lead on advanced nuclear reactors and not leave the future of innovative clean energy technologies in the hands of China. Preserving this valuable national resource is the first step on that path.”

? NEW BILL: @RogerMarshallMD & I introduced the Thorium Energy Security Act to halt the destruction of Uranium-233.

The U.S. should not be destroying U-233 -> it’s important for clean, safe power and national security.

Read more: https://t.co/WJYNvsmPVG

— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) May 18, 2022

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” Weekdays 9-11am on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee