Bills show continued bipartisan support for the future of nuclear energy

NUKE Act seeks to reform outdated NRC fee mechanisms, regulatory processes

Second bill will help ensure supply of enriched uranium for advanced reactors

The House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee today reported out two bills by voice vote that recognize the important role nuclear energy plays in providing reliable, carbon-free electricity in the United States and around the world.

“Once again Washington lawmakers have leveraged bipartisan support for nuclear energy to advance the interests of the U.S. nuclear industry,” NEI Vice President of Governmental Affairs Beverly Marshall said. “NEI and its members appreciate Congress’s action to ensure that nuclear energy continues to be a significant contributor to our nation’s standard of living, national security, economic growth and influence in the international arena.”

The bills that the E&C committee reported out are:

Nuclear Utilization of Keynote Energy (NUKE) Act (HR 1320): Sponsored by Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), this bipartisan legislation updates the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s fee collection mechanism to ensure that industry-paid fees are collected in the most efficient manner possible without adversely affecting safety. The bill also takes steps to create much-needed review timelines for license applications. Finally, the legislation would direct studies to analyze possible outdated procedures at the NRC to see if efficiencies and improvements can be identified.

Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act (HR 6140): Currently, the United States lacks the commercial capability to produce high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU)—enriched above 5 percent and below 20 percent—that will be essential for some of the advanced reactor designs being developed in the U.S. This legislative proposal, sponsored by Reps. Bill Flores (R-Texas) and Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), takes necessary steps to ensure that adequate supplies of domestically produced HALEU are available and also focuses on developing the associated transportation infrastructure for HALEU.

“The NUKE Act sets in motion well-justified and timely steps to reform outdated and inefficient NRC regulations, including the funding structure that was developed nearly 30 years ago. Establishing a more transparent fee process and initiating common-sense reform will lift the burden of unnecessary regulations by the NRC,” Marshall said.

“In addition, support of the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act signifies continued confidence in the development of the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors. By creating a program that will make HALEU available for commercial use, we are making an important investment in the globally competitive race to design and deploy advanced reactor technology.

“We appreciate the actions taken today to safeguard the contributions nuclear energy provides to our national security, economic growth, and international influence and look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers to swiftly have the bills considered on the house floor.”

NEI letters in support of the two bills (as well as a draft bill to reform Part 810 licensing guidelines) and outlining the need for HALEU are available on NEI’s website.