Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-06-01

RECOGNIZING THE SUBMARINE 1ST GENERATION WESTINGHOUSE PROTOTYPE

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Context

On 2026-06-01, Senator James E. Risch (R-ID) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING THE SUBMARINE 1ST GENERATION WESTINGHOUSE PROTOTYPE" in the Senate.

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RECOGNIZING THE SUBMARINE 1ST GENERATION WESTINGHOUSE PROTOTYPE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 92 (Monday, June 1, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 92 (Monday, June 1, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2471] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE SUBMARINE 1ST GENERATION WESTINGHOUSE PROTOTYPE Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Representative Mike Simpson to recognize the significance of the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse, also known as the S1W prototype plant, and commend the crews who safely demolished it. Created under the leadership of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, the Father of the Nuclear Navy, the S1W has stood as a symbol of American innovation, scientific achievement, and national determination for decades. Constructed at what is now the Idaho National Laboratory in 1951, S1W became the Nation's first land-based nuclear submarine prototype and inspired a new era of naval power. The scientists, engineers, and operators who worked on the S1W later went on to develop the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, and contributed to technologies that have fueled American naval dominance for generations. Over S1W's 35 years of operation, more than 12,500 U.S. Navy and civilian personnel were trained at the site, laying the foundation for a highly skilled nuclear workforce that remains critical to our national security today. Over the past 3 years, the Idaho Environmental Coalition has diligently and successfully dismantled this historic facility. Throughout the demolition, IEC crews demonstrated the same spirit of innovation by those who built the S1W, implementing creative solutions to complete the project ahead of schedule and millions of dollars under budget. Today, we honor the legacy of the S1W, the crews who safely demolished it, and the undeniable future of nuclear innovation in America. ____________________

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RECOGNIZING THE SUBMARINE 1ST GENERATION WESTINGHOUSE PROTOTYPE Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 92 (Monday, June 1, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 92 (Monday, June 1, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2471] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE SUBMARINE 1ST GENERATION WESTINGHOUSE PROTOTYPE Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Representative Mike Simpson to recognize the significance of the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse, also known as the S1W prototype plant, and commend the crews who safely demolished it. Created under the leadership of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, the Father of the Nuclear Navy, the S1W has stood as a symbol of American innovation, scientific achievement, and national determination for decades. Constructed at what is now the Idaho National Laboratory in 1951, S1W became the Nation's first land-based nuclear submarine prototype and inspired a new era of naval power. The scientists, engineers, and operators who worked on the S1W later went on to develop the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, and contributed to technologies that have fueled American naval dominance for generations. Over S1W's 35 years of operation, more than 12,500 U.S. Navy and civilian personnel were trained at the site, laying the foundation for a highly skilled nuclear workforce that remains critical to our national security today. Over the past 3 years, the Idaho Environmental Coalition has diligently and successfully dismantled this historic facility. Throughout the demolition, IEC crews demonstrated the same spirit of innovation by those who built the S1W, implementing creative solutions to complete the project ahead of schedule and millions of dollars under budget. Today, we honor the legacy of the S1W, the crews who safely demolished it, and the undeniable future of nuclear innovation in America. ____________________