1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned constituent to urge you to intervene and demand strict oversight regarding the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) recent proposed rule change regarding the radiation protection framework. This proposed action seeks to eliminate the long-standing ALARA ("As Low As Reasonably Achievable") radiation protection principle from federal regulations. While this rollback is framed as modernization and regulatory streamlining to help meet skyrocketing energy demands—including power-hungry tech expansion like AI data centers—it strips away vital safety buffers that have protected workers, local communities, and the environment for decades. By removing the ALARA requirement, the NRC is signaling that nuclear operators are no longer legally expected to minimize radiation exposure below maximum statutory ceilings whenever practical. Instead, operators will be allowed to let worker and public radiation exposure climb right up to maximum allowable legal limits to avoid spending money on superior shielding, safer technologies, or tighter operational controls. The agency’s own documentation acknowledges that this change is intended to save the nuclear industry millions of dollars annually. However, sacrificing fundamental public health safeguards to lower operating costs for private energy producers and corporate tech ventures places profit and rapid industrial buildout ahead of human lives. According to established scientific consensus, there is no completely safe level of ionizing radiation, and long-term health risks increase with exposure. Scrapping the mandate to keep exposures as low as achievable directly increases health risks for nuclear industry workers and communities living near reactors, nuclear waste facilities, and newly proposed sites. As my elected representative in Congress, I ask you to take immediate action to: Demand Congressional Oversight Hearings regarding the NRC’s proposed rule changes to ensure public health and safety remain the top priorities over corporate interests. Press the NRC to retain the mandatory ALARA standard in radiation protection regulations. Oppose any legislative or executive attempts to weaken nuclear safety and radiation protections under the guise of energy deregulation or rapid tech expansion. We must build our energy future responsibly, without sacrificing the safety of our workforce, our families, and our communities. Thank you for your leadership and attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to hearing your position on this issue.