H.R. 7590. Energy and Water Development Appropriations for 1981. The vote is on the Kostmayer amendment to restore $9 million in funding for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to work on safety issues involving nuclear wastes. The funds had been cut by the Appropriations Committee in an effort to centralize all authority for developing a nuclear waste plan under the Department of Energy (DOE). Historically the DOE has been much more interested in promoting nuclear power than in looking honestly at the nuclear waste disposal problem. DOE has issued numerous proclamations saying that the waste problem was "solved" and has tried to dispose of the wastes as quickly as possible rather than as safely as possible. Environmentalists believe that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has more integrity and statutory responsibility to protect public health and safety, which DOE does not. This was considered a key vote by anti-nuclear activists. Amendment rejected 169-245. June 25, 1980. YES is the correct vote.