Oak Ridge Today

Congressman: House votes to fully fund Y-12 during government shutdown

Posted at
By 3 Comments

U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann

Chuck Fleischmann

Note: This story was last updated at 5:22 p.m.

The federal government remains shut down over a funding dispute, but the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Friday morning that would fully fund the Y-12 National Security Complex and other security functions, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann said.

Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge, called it a matter of national security. Y-12 is one of the nation’s nuclear weapons plants, but it started an “orderly shutdown” on Monday because Congress has failed to pass a spending bill in the fiscal year that started Oct. 1.

Fleischmann expressed concern about the shutdown in a speech on the House floor. [Read more…]

During fiscal showdown, three Tennessee legislators support delay in health care law

Posted at
By 11 Comments

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

Three U.S. legislators from Tennessee said they want to keep the government open but want to either delay the individual mandate in the new health care law or not fund it.

The federal fiscal year ends at midnight Monday, and the Affordable Care Act takes effect Tuesday. Critics call the controversial health care law “Obamacare,” and it’s at the heart of the federal fiscal feud.

House Republicans have proposed delaying the law’s individual mandate for one year, repealing a medical device tax that would help pay for the law, and keeping the government open. But Senate Democrats and President Barack Obama have rejected attempts to tie the government spending measure to attempts to change the health care law. [Read more…]

Alexander, Fleischmann oppose use of military force, strike in Syria

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Bob Corker

Bob Corker

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and Rep. Chuck Fleischmann this week said they oppose the use of military force or a limited strike in Syria in retaliation for the government’s suspected use of chemical weapons in the country’s civil war.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bob Corker said he was skeptical about an offer to have Syria turn over its chemical weapons in order to avoid an attack.

President Barack Obama has asked Congress to authorize a limited military strike. [Read more…]

With asbestos removed, DOE starts month-long move back into Federal Building

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Federal Building

The asbestos-containing insulation has been removed, and U.S. Department of Energy employees and contractors started a month-long move back into the Joe L. Evins Federal Building this week.

The asbestos-containing insulation has been removed, and U.S. Department of Energy employees and contractors started a month-long move back into the Joe L. Evins Federal Building this week, a spokesman said Wednesday.

The move back into the five-story building should be complete by the end of September, said Ben Williams, public affairs specialist for the DOE Oak Ridge Office. [Read more…]

Picture: Rep. Fleischmann visits Tech 20/20 to recognize global ranking

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Chuck Fleischmann Visits Tech 20/20

Chairman-Elect Tom Rogers, President and CEO John Morris, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, and Chairman of the Board David Bradshaw discuss Tech 20/20’s recent ranking as one of the top university business incubators in the world. (Submitted photo)

U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann visited Tech 20/20 to congratulate the Oak Ridge venture development organization for its global ranking in managing new business incubators.

Sweden’s University Business Incubator (UBI) Index listed Tech 20/20 the fourth-best in the U.S. and in the top six worldwide in managing business incubators for value contributed to their clients and community, and overall performance. [Read more…]

Guest column: Progress on the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

K-25 Building Aerial View

Now mostly demolished, the former mile-long, U-shaped K-25 Building is pictured above. The site could be included in a Manhattan Project National Historical Park. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy)

There has been significant movement in both the House and Senate on the pending legislation to create a national historical park for the Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge as well as Los Alamos, N.M., and Hanford, Wash.

On June 14, the House of Representatives voted to include the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), H.R. 1960. A few hours later, the House passed the NDAA and, along with it, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act. The Manhattan Project Park Act, and the NDAA amendment, was sponsored by representatives Doc Hastings (R-WA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), and Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN).

The same day, the Senate Committee on Armed Services completed its markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014. Next, the full Senate must pass the bill. Once the Senate acts, a House-Senate conference committee will be appointed to reconcile differences between the two versions of the NDAA. [Read more…]

House passes Manhattan Project national park bill that would include Oak Ridge

Posted at
By 8 Comments

X-10 Graphite Reactor

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park would include the X-10 Graphite Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. (Submitted photo)

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday took an essential step toward establishing a Manhattan Project National Historical Park that could include Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, N.M., and Hanford, Wash., a nonprofit organization said.

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act was included as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which the House passed Friday, the Atomic Heritage Foundation said in an e-mail.

“The new national park will be the first to recognize the top-secret project in World War II that changed the course of world history, science, and society,” the foundation said. [Read more…]

Energy Secretary Moniz visits Y-12 National Security Complex

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Energy Secretary Visits Y-12

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, right, tours the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility during his visit Monday to the Y-12 National Security Complex. Joining him are, from left, B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Chuck Spencer, Julie Huff of B&W Y-12’s Materials Management Organization, B&W Y-12 Senior Vice President of Security Rod Johnson, and NNSA Production Office Manager Steve Erhart.

New U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz visited the Y-12 National Security Complex this week.

Before touring production and storage facilities at the site, Moniz held an all-hands meeting with Y-12, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and federal employees at Y-12’s New Hope Center. Joining him at the meeting was U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

TVC Summit next week includes House majority leader

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Eric Cantor

Eric Cantor

Submitted

Business, community, and political leaders and senior decision-makers will convene at the 2013 Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit next week to discuss issues that are critical to the economic engine of the Tennessee Valley, a press release said.

Hosted by Third District Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, the two-day meeting themed “Securing America’s Future” will focus on energy and environment, innovation and entrepreneurism, public and private partnerships, and advanced manufacturing, the release said.

The Summit will be held at the Y-12 National Security Complex’s New Hope Center in Oak Ridge on May 29-30. [Read more…]

House committee passes bill to set up Manhattan Project National Park

Posted at
By 5 Comments

U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann

Chuck Fleischmann

A U.S. House of Representatives committee on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to establish a Manhattan Project National Historical Park that would include sites in Oak Ridge and Hanford, Wash., and Los Alamos, N.M.

The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II.

The legislation stalled in the last session of Congress, but it has been reintroduced this session. [Read more…]

‘Grateful nation’ honors slain soldier who receives Purple Heart, Bronze Star

Posted at
By 6 Comments

Christopher Michael Ward Family at Funeral

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class David Bickham, second from right, of Fort Campbell, Ky., escorts Joyce Ward, right, of Oak Ridge, after a Saturday funeral for her oldest son, Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward, who died in an April 6 explosion in Afghanistan. Also pictured are Christopher’s two younger brothers, Travis and Matthew.

For many of us, the war in Afghanistan—now the nation’s longest—is largely forgotten. We are consumed, most of the time, by our daily lives, working, paying bills, raising children, and having a little fun when we can.

But Joyce Ward of Oak Ridge will never forget. Her oldest son, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward, 24, died in southern Afghanistan one week ago, the victim of an apparent suicide car bombing that also killed two other soldiers, a U.S. diplomat, and a Department of Defense civilian. They had been delivering donated books to children in Zabul province.

Christopher Michael Ward

Christopher Michael Ward

Ward was remembered and honored during a Saturday funeral at Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge. In a celebration of his life that mixed occasional laughter with many tears, Ward received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal, as well as the Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal.

The three medals were presented to his mother, Joyce Ward of Oak Ridge, in a ceremony with Gen. Jefforey Smith, commanding general of Fort Knox, Ky. Smith called Ward a man of character, a member of the small group of Americans who join the military. [Read more…]

Mayor to testify to Congress: Manhattan Project park would honor most significant event of last century

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Tom Beehan

Tom Beehan

A new national historical park that could include Oak Ridge would honor the history of the Manhattan Project, the most significant event of the 20th Century, Mayor Tom Beehan will tell a U.S. House subcommittee in testimony this morning.

The Manhattan Project was a top-secret U.S. program to build the world’s first atomic weapons. The three Manhattan Project sites that could be included in the new park are Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, N.M., and Hanford, Wash.

Despite what some detractors might say, the proposed park is not about weapons, Beehan wrote in prepared testimony.

“I believe this historical park is about scientific and engineering accomplishments at a time when our country was defending itself, both during World War II and the Cold War,” he said. [Read more…]