Good afternoon.

As President Biden noted in his message to the General Conference, this year’s meeting is taking place at a defining moment in history. In my position as Administrator of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, I am keenly aware of the challenges the international community faces. This moment demands incredible diligence, and it is heartening to see the commitment at this year’s General Conference to tackle these challenges.

Nowhere are our challenges more immediate than in Ukraine. We applaud DG Grossi’s leadership and the dedication of the IAEA to support the safety and security of nuclear facilities and materials in Ukraine. Recent events have underlined the inherent danger of combat operations in the proximity of nuclear reactors. I want to also reiterate our firm support for IAEA’s seven pillars of safety and security of nuclear facilities. Russia’s unprovoked invasion, its storage of military equipment in and around Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, and the inappropriate treatment and stress placed on the Ukrainian staff at the plant have created a dangerous situation. Nuclear power plants are designed to handle any number of disasters; war is not one of them. All operating units have been shut down; however, it will take considerable time for these reactors to cool, and the risks will remain high as long as combat operations continue in the near vicinity. We urge the cessation of combat operations around the plant.

We welcome the IAEA’s continuing presence at the plant and the Director General’s proposal for a safe and secure protective zone around the plant. We continue to closely monitor the status of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities and stand prepared to provide technical support and assistance. Indeed, a strong emergency preparedness and response posture is critical.

I thank the IAEA and acknowledge the role of its Incident and Emergency Centre as a leader in international emergency preparedness and response.

Russia’s invasion and willingness to leverage its energy resources demonstrate the need for renewed focus on the intersection of energy and security. Nuclear power represents a path towards zero-emission energy independence, helping to combat climate change while bringing us closer to the UN’s sustainable development goals.

At the same time, any expansion in nuclear power – or indeed all peaceful uses of nuclear technology – must be accompanied by the highest nonproliferation, safety, and security standards. Doing so helps build public confidence in the safety and security of these technologies which supports access to peaceful uses and preserves its benefits.

We will continue to encourage and support all nations adopting and adhering to the highest IAEA verification standards – a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with an Additional Protocol and a Modified Small Quantities Protocol if applicable. We will also promote universalization and strengthened implementation of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and minimization of weapons useable materials.

The safe and responsible use of nuclear energy and nuclear technology for peaceful purposes can foster global prosperity and improve quality of life, whether through clean and reliable nuclear energy or advances in nuclear medicine, agriculture, and other applications. The IAEA stands at the center of these efforts.

As we approach the end of the General Conference, I wish you all the best and encourage you to help create a positive future.

Thank you and I look forward to your questions.