{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://menefee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-menefee-pushes-for-nuclear-energy-investments-in-houston", "Rep. Menefee Pushes for Nuclear Energy Investments in Houston", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Christian D. Menefee", "M001245", "menefee.house.gov", "menefee", "https://menefee.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Christian D. Menefee (TX-18) highlighted Houston\u2019s role in the future of advanced energy during a House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy hearing, \u201cPowering the Nuclear Renaissance: Accelerating U.S. Leadership in Advanced Nuclear Reactors.\u201d\n\nCongressman Menefee focused on bringing more nuclear research, investments, and jobs to Houston as the country works to expand its advanced reactor capacity and meet growing demand for electricity.\n\n\u201cHouston is the energy capital of the world. We are a city that builds things, that moves things and that powers things.\u201d Rep. Menefee said. \u201cWhen this committee says \u2018nuclear renaissance,\u2019 my district hears a job, a career, and an opportunity to research and power what comes next.\u201d\n\nRep. Menefee noted that while Texas has long been a leader in traditional hydrocarbons, nuclear power makes up less than 10% of the state\u2019s electricity generation and has remained roughly flat for decades, even as electricity demand continues to grow. He highlighted the opportunity for Texas to build on its long history of energy leadership by investing in nuclear and other emerging energy technologies.\n\n\u201cI want Texas to grow. I want Houston to grow. And I want this nation to grow in this space,\u201d Rep. Menefee said. \u201cNuclear energy is the next frontier, and there\u2019s a lot of opportunity ahead. But as we grow this industry, we have to make sure the communities surrounding these facilities aren\u2019t left carrying the burden. We can create good-paying jobs, grow our economy, lead the future of energy, and make the health and safety of our communities a priority every step of the way.\u201d\n\nDuring the hearing, Congressman Menefee also pushed for Houston universities, including Texas Southern University and the University of Houston, to receive more federal funding for nuclear research.\n\n\u201cI want research dollars to land at schools like Texas Southern University and the University of Houston, both of which have been knee-deep in nuclear research and our state\u2019s journey for more dependable, low-carbon power,\u201d Rep. Menefee said. \u201cI want a young adult from my district with a welding certificate to have a real path into these jobs.\u201d\n\nDuring his questioning, Congressman Menefee highlighted the University of Houston\u2019s membership in the Texas Nuclear Alliance and its energy and manufacturing research, including work through the Energy Transition Institute, Advanced Manufacturing Institute, and Texas Center for Superconductivity.", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://menefee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-menefee-pushes-for-nuclear-energy-investments-in-houston"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3033619616180658, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}