Gore-Holifield bill

In the middle of the growing controversy over the best way to develop an atomic industry, the AEC issued the PRDC provisional construction permit. Even Democrats with short memories remembered that nine days earlier the Republicans in the House, with strong administration backing, had narrowly defeated the Gore-Holifield bill, the Democratic attempt, with labor support, to bolster the civilian power program by directing the AEC to construct and operate six different prototype power reactors. In this heated political context, and with the fall election on most politicians minds, the PRDC decision took on a new dimension. Anderson and Holifield as well as several labor leaders recognized that the AEC decision on the PRDC reactor offered both the Democrats and the AFL-CIO a political opportunity that could be exploited to embarrass the Republicans. But the best tactical course to pursue was less obvious. 

Already completed Senate action gave credence to Strauss s analysis. Anticipating a close floor fight in the House, the Senate Democratic leadership, prompted by Senator Anderson, had called Gore-Holifield for a vote because it felt the bill stood a better chance of passage in the upper chamber. In turn, success in the Senate could influence the House vote. After a brief debate, the Senate, on 12 July, voted for the bill by forty-nine to forty. ... 

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