Under the present Clean Air Act, states have the authority to set standards more protective than the federal standards, for radioactive emissions from Nuclear Regulatory Commission facilities. The Senate Committee bill included a provision that would preempt states' rights to establish their own standards for radioactive air pollutants.

The Glenn-Heinz amendment was intended to restore states' rights to set tough public health standards for radionuclides. This vote was on a motion to table the Glenn-Heinz amendment. The motion failed, with a vote of 36-61 on March 7. No is the pro-environment vote. The amendment subsequently passed with a voice vote.