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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6544 Engrossed in House (EH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6544

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 
   To advance the benefits of nuclear energy by enabling efficient, 
   timely, and predictable licensing, regulation, and deployment of 
          nuclear energy technologies, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Atomic Energy 
Advancement Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                 TITLE I--NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

  Subtitle A--Efficiency, Performance, and Preparation for the Future

Sec. 101. NRC mission alignment.
Sec. 102. Nuclear licensing efficiency.
Sec. 103. Strengthening the NRC workforce.
                       Subtitle B--Fee Reduction

Sec. 111. Advanced reactor fee reduction.
Sec. 112. Advanced nuclear reactor prize.
          Subtitle C--Siting, Licensing, and Oversight Reviews

Sec. 121. Modernization of nuclear reactor environmental reviews.
Sec. 122. Nuclear for Brownfield sites.
Sec. 123. Advancement of nuclear regulatory oversight.
                TITLE II--NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT

Sec. 201. Advanced nuclear deployment.
Sec. 202. Global nuclear cooperation.
Sec. 203. American nuclear competitiveness.

                 TITLE I--NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

  Subtitle A--Efficiency, Performance, and Preparation for the Future

SEC. 101. NRC MISSION ALIGNMENT.

    (a) Mission of the Commission.--
            (1) Update.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall, 
        while remaining consistent with the policies of the Atomic 
        Energy Act of 1954 (including to provide reasonable assurance 
        of adequate protection of the public health and safety, to 
        promote the common defense and security, and to protect the 
        environment), update the mission statement of the Commission to 
        include that licensing and regulation of nuclear energy 
        activities be conducted in a manner that is efficient and does 
        not unnecessarily limit--
                    (A) the potential of nuclear energy to improve the 
                general welfare; and
                    (B) the benefits of nuclear energy technology to 
                society.
            (2) Report.--Upon completion of the update to the mission 
        statement required under paragraph (1), the Nuclear Regulatory 
        Commission shall submit to Congress a report that describes--
                    (A) the updated mission statement; and
                    (B) the guidance that the Nuclear Regulatory 
                Commission will provide to staff of the Nuclear 
                Regulatory Commission to ensure effective performance 
                of such mission.
    (b) Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.--Section 203 of the 
Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5843) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``(a) There'' and 
        inserting the following:
    ``(a) Establishment; Appointment of Director.--There'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``(b) Subject'' and 
                        inserting the following:
    ``(b) Functions of Director.--Subject''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``delegate including:'' 
                        and inserting ``delegate, including the 
                        following:''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``for the 
                discharge of the'' and inserting ``to fulfill the 
                licensing and regulatory oversight'';
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``(c) Nothing'' and 
        inserting the following:
    ``(d) Responsibility for Safe Operation of Facilities.--Nothing''; 
and
            (4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Licensing Process.--In carrying out the principal licensing 
and regulation functions under subsection (b)(1), the Director of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation shall--
            ``(1) establish techniques and guidance for evaluating 
        applications for licenses for nuclear reactors to support 
        efficient, timely, and predictable reviews of applications for 
        such licenses to enable the safe and secure use of nuclear 
        reactors;
            ``(2) maintain the techniques and guidance established 
        under paragraph (1) by periodically assessing and, if 
        necessary, modifying such techniques and guidance; and
            ``(3) obtain approval from the Commission if establishment 
        or modification of the techniques and guidance established 
        under paragraph (1) or (2) involves policy formulation.''.

SEC. 102. NUCLEAR LICENSING EFFICIENCY.

    (a) Efficient Licensing Reviews.--
            (1) General.--Section 181 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 
        (42 U.S.C. 2231) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``The provisions of'' and inserting 
                the following:
    ``(a) The provisions of''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Consistent with the declaration in section 1, the Commission 
shall provide for efficient, timely, and predictable reviews and 
proceedings for the granting, suspending, revoking, or amending of any 
license or construction permit, or application to transfer control, and 
in any proceeding for the issuance or modification of rules and 
regulations dealing with the activities of licenses.''.
            (2) Construction permits and operating licenses.--Section 
        185 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2235) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``c. Application Reviews for Production and Utilization Facilities 
of an Existing Site.--In reviewing an application for an early site 
permit, construction permit, operating license, or combined 
construction permit and operating license for a production facility or 
utilization facility located at the site of a production facility or 
utilization facility licensed by the Commission, the Commission shall, 
to the extent practicable, use information that was part of the 
licensing basis of the licensed production facility or utilization 
facility.''.
    (b) Performance Metrics and Milestones.--Section 102(c) of the 
Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``180'' 
                and inserting ``90''; and
                    (B) by striking ``180'' and inserting ``90''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Periodic updates to metrics and schedules.--
                    ``(A) Review and assessment.--Not less frequently 
                than once every 3 years, the Commission shall review 
                and assess, based on the licensing and regulatory 
                activities of the Commission, the performance metrics 
                and milestone schedules developed under paragraph (1).
                    ``(B) Revisions.--After each review and assessment 
                under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall revise, as 
                appropriate, the performance metrics and milestone 
                schedules developed under paragraph (1) to provide the 
                most efficient performance metrics and milestone 
                schedules reasonably achievable.''.
    (c) Clarification on Fusion Regulation.--Section 103(a)(4) of the 
Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2133 note; 
Public Law 115-439) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Not later'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Exclusion of fusion reactors.--
                Notwithstanding section 3(1), for purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), the term `advanced nuclear reactor 
                applicant' does not include an applicant for a license 
                for a nuclear fusion reactor.''.
    (d) Technical Correction.--Section 104 c. of the Atomic Energy Act 
of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2134(c)) is amended--
            (1) by striking the third sentence and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(3) Limitation on utilization facilities.--The Commission 
        may issue a license under this section for a utilization 
        facility useful in the conduct of research and development 
        activities of the types specified in section 31 if--
                    ``(A) not more than 75 percent of the annual costs 
                to the licensee of owning and operating the facility 
                are devoted to the sale, other than for research and 
                development or education and training, of--
                            ``(i) nonenergy services;
                            ``(ii) energy; or
                            ``(iii) a combination of nonenergy services 
                        and energy; and
                    ``(B) not more than 50 percent of the annual costs 
                to the licensee of owning and operating the facility 
                are devoted to the sale of energy.'';
            (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``The Commission'' 
        and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Regulation.--The Commission''; and
            (3) by striking ``c. The Commission'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``c. Research and Development Activities.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the 
        Commission''.
    (e) Fusion Machines.--
            (1) Definition.--Section 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 
        1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
    ``kk. Fusion Machine.--The term `fusion machine' means a particle 
accelerator that is capable of--
            ``(1) transforming atomic nuclei, through fusion processes, 
        into other elements, isotopes, or particles; and
            ``(2) directly capturing and using the resultant products, 
        including particles, heat, and other electromagnetic 
        radiation.''.
            (2) Technology-inclusive regulatory framework.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 103(a) of the Nuclear 
                Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2133 
                note) is further amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end 
                        the following:
                    ``(C) Fusion machine applicants.--Not later than 
                December 31, 2027, the Commission shall complete a 
                rulemaking to establish a technology-inclusive, 
                regulatory framework for optional use by fusion machine 
                applicants for new license applications.''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (5)(B)(ii), by inserting 
                        ``and fusion machine license applications'' 
                        after ``commercial advanced nuclear reactor 
                        license applications''.
                    (B) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Nuclear Energy 
                Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215 note) 
                is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(21) Fusion machine.--The term `fusion machine' has the 
        meaning given such term in subsection kk. of section 11 of the 
        Atomic Energy Act of 1954.''.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall 
        submit to Congress a report on--
                    (A) the results of a study, conducted in 
                consultation with Agreement States (as defined in 
                section 3 of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and 
                Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215 note) and the private 
                fusion sector, on risk- and performance-based, design-
                specific licensing frameworks for mass-manufactured 
                fusion machines (as defined in subsection kk. of 
                section 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as added 
                by this subsection), that includes evaluation of the 
                Federal Aviation Administration's design, 
                manufacturing, and operations certification process for 
                aircraft as a potential model for mass-manufactured 
                fusion machine regulations; and
                    (B) the estimated timeline for the Commission to 
                issue consolidated guidance or regulations for 
                licensing mass-manufactured fusion machines, taking 
                into account the results of such study and the 
                anticipated need for such guidance or regulations.

SEC. 103. STRENGTHENING THE NRC WORKFORCE.

    (a) Commission Workforce.--
            (1) General authority.--The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
        U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 161A 
        the following:

``SEC. 161B. COMMISSION WORKFORCE.

    ``(a) Direct Hire Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 161 d. of this 
        Act and section 2(b) of Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1980 (94 
        Stat. 3585; 5 U.S.C. app.), and without regard to any provision 
        of title 5 (except sections 3303 and 3328), United States Code, 
        governing appointments in the civil service, if the Chairman of 
        the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (in this section referred to 
        as the `Chairman') issues or renews a certification that there 
        is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need 
        for covered positions to carry out the Nuclear Regulatory 
        Commission's (in this section referred to as the `Commission') 
        responsibilities and activities in a timely, efficient, and 
        effective manner, the Chairman may, during any period when such 
        a certification is in effect--
                    ``(A) recruit and directly appoint highly qualified 
                individuals into the excepted service for covered 
                positions; and
                    ``(B) establish in the excepted service term-
                limited covered positions and recruit and directly 
                appoint highly qualified individuals into such term-
                limited covered positions, which may not exceed a term 
                of 4 years.
            ``(2) Limitations.--
                    ``(A) Merit principles.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable, any action authorized pursuant to 
                paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the merit 
                principles of section 2301 of title 5, United States 
                Code.
                    ``(B) Number.--The number of highly qualified 
                individuals serving in--
                            ``(i) covered positions pursuant to 
                        paragraph (1)(A) may not exceed 210 at any one 
                        time; and
                            ``(ii) term-limited covered positions 
                        pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) may not exceed 80 
                        at any one time.
                    ``(C) Compensation.--The Chairman may not use 
                authority under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (1)(B) to 
                compensate individuals recruited and directly appointed 
                into a covered position or a term-limited covered 
                position at an annual rate of basic pay higher than the 
                annual salary payable for level III of the Executive 
                Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States 
                Code.
                    ``(D) Senior executive service position.--The 
                Chairman may not, under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph 
                (1)(B), appoint highly qualified individuals to any 
                Senior Executive Service position, as defined in 
                section 3132 of title 5, United States Code.
            ``(3) Renewal.--The Chairman may renew a certification 
        issued or renewed under this subsection if the Chairman 
        determines there is still a severe shortage of candidates or a 
        critical hiring need for covered positions to carry out the 
        Commission's responsibilities and activities in a timely, 
        efficient, and effective manner.
            ``(4) Termination.--A certification issued or renewed under 
        this subsection shall terminate on the earlier of--
                    ``(A) the date that is 10 years after the 
                certification is renewed or issued; or
                    ``(B) the date on which the Chairman determines 
                there is no longer a severe shortage of candidates or a 
                critical hiring need for covered positions to carry out 
                the Commission's responsibilities and activities in a 
                timely, efficient, and effective manner.
            ``(5) Level of positions.--To the extent practicable, in 
        carrying out paragraph (1) the Chairman shall recruit and 
        directly appoint highly qualified individuals into the excepted 
        service to entry, mid, and senior level covered positions, 
        including term-limited covered positions.
    ``(b) Addressing Insufficient Compensation of Employees and Other 
Personnel of the Commission.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, if the Chairman issues or renews a certification that 
        compensation for employees or other personnel of the Commission 
        serving in a covered position is insufficient to retain or 
        attract such employees and other personnel to allow the 
        Commission to carry out the responsibilities and activities of 
        the Commission in a timely, efficient, and effective manner, 
        the Chairman may, during any period when such a certification 
        is in effect, fix the compensation for such employees or other 
        personnel serving in a covered position without regard to any 
        provision of title 5, United States Code, governing General 
        Schedule classification and pay rates.
            ``(2) Certification requirements.--A certification issued 
        or renewed under this subsection shall--
                    ``(A) apply to employees or other personnel who 
                serve in covered positions;
                    ``(B) terminate on the earlier of--
                            ``(i) the date that is 10 years after the 
                        certification is issued or renewed; or
                            ``(ii) the date on which the Chairman 
                        determines that the use of the authority of the 
                        Chairman under this subsection to fix 
                        compensation for employees or other personnel 
                        serving in a covered position is no longer 
                        necessary to retain or attract such employees 
                        and other personnel to allow the Commission to 
                        carry out the Commission's responsibilities and 
                        activities in a timely, efficient, and 
                        effective manner; and
                    ``(C) be no broader than necessary to achieve the 
                objective of retaining or attracting employees and 
                other personnel serving in a covered position to allow 
                the Commission to carry out the Commission's 
                responsibilities and activities in a timely, efficient, 
                and effective manner.
            ``(3) Renewal.--The Chairman may renew a certification 
        issued or renewed under this subsection if the Chairman 
        determines that use of the authority of the Chairman under this 
        subsection to fix compensation for employees or other personnel 
        serving in a covered position is still necessary to retain or 
        attract such employees or other personnel to allow the 
        Commission to carry out the Commission's responsibilities and 
        activities in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.
            ``(4) Applicability.--The authority under this subsection 
        to fix the compensation of employees or other personnel during 
        any period when a certification issued or renewed under 
        paragraph (1) is in effect shall apply with respect to an 
        employee or other personnel serving in a covered position 
        regardless of when the employee or other personnel was hired.
            ``(5) Retention of level of fixed compensation.--The 
        termination of a certification issued or renewed under 
        paragraph (1) shall not affect the compensation of an employee 
        or other personnel serving in a covered position whose 
        compensation was fixed by the Chairman in accordance with 
        paragraph (1).
            ``(6) Limitation on compensation.--The Chairman may not use 
        the authority under paragraph (1) to fix the compensation of 
        employees or other personnel at an annual rate of basic pay 
        higher than the annual salary payable for level III of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States 
        Code.
            ``(7) Experts and consultants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Chairman may--
                            ``(i) obtain the services of experts and 
                        consultants in accordance with section 3109 of 
                        title 5, United States Code;
                            ``(ii) compensate those experts and 
                        consultants for each day (including travel 
                        time) at rates not in excess of the rate of pay 
                        for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
                        section 5315 of that title; and
                            ``(iii) pay to the experts and consultants 
                        serving away from the homes or regular places 
                        of business of the experts and consultants 
                        travel expenses and per diem in lieu of 
                        subsistence at rates authorized by sections 
                        5702 and 5703 of that title for persons in 
                        Government service employed intermittently.
                    ``(B) Limitations.--The Chairman shall--
                            ``(i) to the maximum extent practicable, 
                        limit the use of experts and consultants 
                        pursuant to subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(ii) ensure that the employment contract 
                        of each expert and consultant employed pursuant 
                        to subparagraph (A) is subject to renewal not 
                        less frequently than annually.
    ``(c) Additional Compensation Authority.--
            ``(1) For new employees.--The Chairman may pay a person 
        recruited and directly appointed under subsection (a) a 1-time 
        hiring bonus in an amount not to exceed $25,000.
            ``(2) For existing employees.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), an 
                employee or other personnel who the Chairman determines 
                exhibited exceptional performance in a fiscal year may 
                be paid a performance bonus in an amount not to exceed 
                the least of--
                            ``(i) $25,000; and
                            ``(ii) the amount of the limitation that is 
                        applicable for a calendar year under section 
                        5307(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code.
                    ``(B) Limitations.--
                            ``(i) Subsequent bonuses.--Any person who 
                        receives a performance bonus under subparagraph 
                        (A) may not receive another performance bonus 
                        under that subparagraph for a period of 5 years 
                        thereafter.
                            ``(ii) Hiring bonuses.--Any person who 
                        receives a 1-time hiring bonus under paragraph 
                        (1) may not receive a performance bonus under 
                        subparagraph (A) unless more than one year has 
                        elapsed since the payment of such 1-time hiring 
                        bonus.
    ``(d) Implementation Plan and Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this section, the Chairman shall develop and 
        implement a plan to carry out this section. Before implementing 
        such plan, the Chairman shall submit to the Committee on Energy 
        and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
        Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Office of 
        Personnel Management a report on the details of the plan.
            ``(2) Report content.--The report submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include--
                    ``(A) evidence and supporting documentation 
                justifying the plan; and
                    ``(B) budgeting projections on costs and benefits 
                resulting from the plan.
            ``(3) Consultation.--The Chairman may consult with the 
        Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and 
        Budget, and the Comptroller General of the United States in 
        developing the plan under paragraph (1).
    ``(e) Delegation.--The Chairman shall delegate, subject to the 
direction and supervision of the Chairman, the authority provided by 
subsections (a), (b), and (c) to the Executive Director for Operations 
of the Commission.
    ``(f) Information on Hiring, Vacancies, and Compensation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall include in its 
        budget materials submitted in support of the budget of the 
        President (submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of 
        title 31, United States Code), for each fiscal year beginning 
        after the date of enactment of this section, information 
        relating to hiring, vacancies, and compensation at the 
        Commission.
            ``(2) Inclusions.--The information described in paragraph 
        (1) shall include--
                    ``(A) an analysis of any trends with respect to 
                hiring, vacancies, and compensation at the Commission;
                    ``(B) a description of the efforts to retain and 
                attract employees or other personnel to serve in 
                covered positions at the Commission;
                    ``(C) information that describes--
                            ``(i) if a certification under subsection 
                        (a) was in effect at any point in the previous 
                        year, how the authority provided by that 
                        subsection is being used to address the hiring 
                        needs of the Commission;
                            ``(ii) the total number of highly qualified 
                        individuals serving in--
                                    ``(I) covered positions pursuant to 
                                subsection (a)(1)(A); and
                                    ``(II) term-limited covered 
                                positions pursuant to subsection 
                                (a)(1)(B);
                            ``(iii) if a certification under subsection 
                        (b) was in effect at any point in the previous 
                        year, how the authority provided by that 
                        subsection is being used to address the hiring 
                        or retention needs of the Commission;
                            ``(iv) the total number of employees or 
                        other personnel serving in a covered position 
                        that have their compensation fixed pursuant to 
                        subsection (b);
                            ``(v) if a certification under subsection 
                        (a) or (b) was terminated or was not in effect 
                        at any point in the previous year, why such a 
                        certification was terminated or was not in 
                        effect;
                            ``(vi) the attrition levels with respect to 
                        term-limited covered positions appointed under 
                        subsection (a)(1)(B), including the number of 
                        individuals leaving a term-limited covered 
                        position before completion of the applicable 
                        term of service and the average length of 
                        service for such individuals as a percentage of 
                        the applicable term of service; and
                            ``(vii) the number of experts and 
                        consultants retained under subsection (b)(7); 
                        and
                    ``(D) an assessment of--
                            ``(i) the current critical workforce needs 
                        of the Commission and any critical workforce 
                        needs that the Commission anticipates in the 
                        next five years; and
                            ``(ii) additional skillsets that are or 
                        likely will be needed for the Commission to 
                        fulfill the licensing and oversight 
                        responsibilities of the Commission.
    ``(g) Covered Position.--In this section, the term `covered 
position' means a position in which an employee or other personnel is 
responsible for conducting work of a scientific, technical, 
engineering, mathematical, legal, managerial, or otherwise highly 
specialized or skilled nature.''.
            (2) Table of contents.--The table of contents of the Atomic 
        Energy Act of 1954 is amended by inserting after the item 
        relating to section 161 the following:

``Sec. 161A. Use of firearms by security personnel.
``Sec. 161B. Commission workforce.''.
    (b) Government Accountability Office Report.--Not later than 
September 30, 2032, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of 
the Senate a report that--
            (1) evaluates the extent to which the authorities provided 
        under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 161B of the 
        Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (as added by this Act) have been 
        utilized;
            (2) describes the role in which the highly qualified 
        individuals recruited and directly appointed pursuant to 
        section 161B(a) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (as added by 
        this Act) have been utilized to support the licensing of 
        advanced nuclear reactors;
            (3) assesses the effectiveness of the authorities provided 
        under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 161B of the 
        Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (as added by this Act) in helping the 
        Nuclear Regulatory Commission fulfill its mission;
            (4) makes recommendations to improve the Nuclear Regulatory 
        Commission's strategic workforce management; and
            (5) makes recommendations with respect to whether Congress 
        should enhance, modify, or discontinue the authorities provided 
        under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 161B of the 
        Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (as added by this Act).
    (c) Annual Solicitation for Nuclear Regulator Apprenticeship 
Network Applications.--The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, on an annual 
basis, shall solicit applications for the Nuclear Regulator 
Apprenticeship Network.

                       Subtitle B--Fee Reduction

SEC. 111. ADVANCED REACTOR FEE REDUCTION.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and 
Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215 note; Public Law 115-439) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (15) as 
        paragraphs (3), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (14), (15), 
        (16), (17), (18), (19), and (20), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Advanced nuclear reactor applicant.--The term 
        `advanced nuclear reactor applicant' means an entity that has 
        submitted to the Commission an application for a license for an 
        advanced nuclear reactor under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 
        (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).'';
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) 
        the following:
            ``(4) Advanced nuclear reactor preapplicant.--The term 
        `advanced nuclear reactor preapplicant' means an entity that 
        has submitted to the Commission a licensing project plan for 
        the purposes of submitting a future application for a license 
        for an advanced nuclear reactor under the Atomic Energy Act of 
        1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
            ``(5) Agency support.--The term `agency support' has the 
        meaning given the term `agency support (corporate support and 
        the IG)' in section 170.3 of title 10, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (or any successor regulation).''; and
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (11) (as so redesignated) 
        the following:
            ``(12) Mission-direct program salaries and benefits.--The 
        term `mission-direct program salaries and benefits' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 170.3 of title 10, Code of 
        Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
            ``(13) Mission-indirect program support.--The term 
        `mission-indirect program support' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 170.3 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations 
        (or any successor regulation).''.
    (b) Excluded Activities.--Section 102(b)(1)(B) of the Nuclear 
Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215(b)(1)(B)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) The total costs of mission-indirect 
                        program support and agency support that, under 
                        paragraph (2)(B)(ii), may not be included in 
                        the professional hourly rate charged for fees 
                        assessed and collected from advanced nuclear 
                        reactor applicants.
                            ``(v) The total costs of mission-indirect 
                        program support and agency support that, under 
                        paragraph (2)(C)(ii), may not be included in 
                        the professional hourly rate charged for fees 
                        assessed and collected from advanced nuclear 
                        reactor preapplicants.''.
    (c) Fees for Service or Thing of Value.--Section 102(b) of the 
Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215(b)) is 
amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Fees for service or thing of value.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In accordance with section 9701 
                of title 31, United States Code, the Commission shall 
                assess and collect fees from any person who receives a 
                service or thing of value from the Commission to cover 
                the costs to the Commission of providing the service or 
                thing of value.
                    ``(B) Advanced nuclear reactor applicants.--The 
                professional hourly rate charged for fees assessed and 
                collected from an advanced nuclear reactor applicant 
                under this paragraph relating to the review of a 
                submitted application for an advanced nuclear reactor 
                may not--
                            ``(i) exceed the professional hourly rate 
                        for mission-direct program salaries and 
                        benefits of the Nuclear Reactor Safety Program; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) include the costs of mission-
                        indirect program support and agency support.
                    ``(C) Advanced nuclear reactor preapplicants.--The 
                professional hourly rate charged for fees assessed and 
                collected from an advanced nuclear reactor preapplicant 
                under this paragraph relating to the review of 
                submitted materials as described in the licensing 
                project plan of such advanced nuclear reactor 
                preapplicant may not--
                            ``(i) exceed the professional hourly rate 
                        for mission-direct program salaries and 
                        benefits of the Nuclear Reactor Safety Program; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) include the costs of mission-
                        indirect program support and agency support.
                    ``(D) Calculation of hourly rate.--In this 
                paragraph, the professional hourly rate for mission-
                direct program salaries and benefits of the Nuclear 
                Reactor Safety Program equals the quotient obtained by 
                dividing--
                            ``(i) the full-time equivalent rate (within 
                        the meaning of the document of the Commission 
                        entitled `FY 2023 Final Fee Rule Work Papers' 
                        (or a successor document)) for mission-direct 
                        program salaries and benefits of the Nuclear 
                        Reactor Safety Program (as determined by the 
                        Commission) for a fiscal year; by
                            ``(ii) the productive hours assumption for 
                        that fiscal year, determined in accordance with 
                        the formula established in the document 
                        referred to in clause (i) (or a successor 
                        document).''.
    (d) Sunset.--Section 102(f) of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and 
Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215(f)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) Cessation of Effectiveness.--Paragraphs (1)(B)(v) and (2)(C) 
of subsection (b) shall cease to be effective on September 30, 2029.''.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2024.

SEC. 112. ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTOR PRIZE.

    Section 103 of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act 
(Public Law 115-439; 132 Stat. 5571) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(f) Prizes for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Licensing.--
            ``(1) Definition of eligible entity.--In this subsection, 
        the term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a non-Federal entity; and
                    ``(B) the Tennessee Valley Authority.
            ``(2) Prize for advanced nuclear reactor licensing.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding section 169 of 
                the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2209) and 
                subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
                Secretary is authorized to make, with respect to each 
                award category described in subparagraph (C), an award 
                in an amount described in subparagraph (B) to the first 
                eligible entity--
                            ``(i) to which the Commission issues an 
                        operating license for an advanced nuclear 
                        reactor under part 50 of title 10, Code of 
                        Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), 
                        for which an application has not been approved 
                        by the Commission as of the date of enactment 
                        of this subsection; or
                            ``(ii) for which the Commission makes a 
                        finding described in section 52.103(g) of title 
                        10, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
                        regulations), with respect to a combined 
                        license for an advanced nuclear reactor--
                                    ``(I) that is issued under subpart 
                                C of part 52 of that title (or 
                                successor regulations); and
                                    ``(II) for which an application has 
                                not been approved by the Commission as 
                                of the date of enactment of this 
                                subsection.
                    ``(B) Amount of award.--Subject to paragraph (3), 
                an award under subparagraph (A) shall be in an amount 
                equal to the total amount assessed by the Commission 
                and collected under section 102(b)(2) from the eligible 
                entity receiving the award for costs relating to the 
                issuance of the license described in that subparagraph, 
                including, as applicable, costs relating to the 
                issuance of an associated construction permit described 
                in section 50.23 of title 10, Code of Federal 
                Regulations (or successor regulations), or early site 
                permit (as defined in section 52.1 of that title (or 
                successor regulations)).
                    ``(C) Award categories.--An award under 
                subparagraph (A) may be made for--
                            ``(i) the first advanced nuclear reactor 
                        for which the Commission--
                                    ``(I) issues a license in 
                                accordance with clause (i) of 
                                subparagraph (A); or
                                    ``(II) makes a finding in 
                                accordance with clause (ii) of that 
                                subparagraph;
                            ``(ii) an advanced nuclear reactor that--
                                    ``(I) uses isotopes derived from 
                                spent nuclear fuel (as defined in 
                                section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy 
                                Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101)) or 
                                depleted uranium as fuel for the 
                                advanced nuclear reactor; and
                                    ``(II) is the first advanced 
                                nuclear reactor described in subclause 
                                (I) for which the Commission--
                                            ``(aa) issues a license in 
                                        accordance with clause (i) of 
                                        subparagraph (A); or
                                            ``(bb) makes a finding in 
                                        accordance with clause (ii) of 
                                        that subparagraph;
                            ``(iii) an advanced nuclear reactor that--
                                    ``(I) is a nuclear integrated 
                                energy system--
                                            ``(aa) that is composed of 
                                        2 or more co-located or jointly 
                                        operated subsystems of energy 
                                        generation, energy storage, or 
                                        other technologies;
                                            ``(bb) in which not fewer 
                                        than 1 subsystem described in 
                                        item (aa) is a nuclear energy 
                                        system; and
                                            ``(cc) the purpose of which 
                                        is--

                                                    ``(AA) to reduce 
                                                greenhouse gas 
                                                emissions in both the 
                                                power and nonpower 
                                                sectors; and

                                                    ``(BB) to maximize 
                                                energy production and 
                                                efficiency; and

                                    ``(II) is the first advanced 
                                nuclear reactor described in subclause 
                                (I) for which the Commission--
                                            ``(aa) issues a license in 
                                        accordance with clause (i) of 
                                        subparagraph (A); or
                                            ``(bb) makes a finding in 
                                        accordance with clause (ii) of 
                                        that subparagraph;
                            ``(iv) an advanced reactor that--
                                    ``(I) operates flexibly to generate 
                                electricity or high temperature process 
                                heat for nonelectric applications; and
                                    ``(II) is the first advanced 
                                nuclear reactor described in subclause 
                                (I) for which the Commission--
                                            ``(aa) issues a license in 
                                        accordance with clause (i) of 
                                        subparagraph (A); or
                                            ``(bb) makes a finding in 
                                        accordance with clause (ii) of 
                                        that subparagraph; and
                            ``(v) the first advanced nuclear reactor 
                        for which the Commission grants approval to 
                        load nuclear fuel pursuant to the technology-
                        inclusive regulatory framework established 
                        under subsection (a)(4).
            ``(3) Federal funding limitation.--
                    ``(A) Exclusion of tva funds.--In this paragraph, 
                the term `Federal funds' does not include funds 
                received under the power program of the Tennessee 
                Valley Authority established pursuant to the Tennessee 
                Valley Authority Act of 1933 (16 U.S.C. 831 et seq.).
                    ``(B) Limitation on amounts expended.--An award 
                under this subsection shall not exceed the total amount 
                expended (excluding any expenditures made with Federal 
                funds received for the applicable project and an amount 
                equal to the minimum cost-share required under section 
                988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352)) 
                by the eligible entity receiving the award for 
                licensing costs relating to the project for which the 
                award is made.
                    ``(C) Repayments and dividends not required.--
                Notwithstanding section 9104(a)(4) of title 31, United 
                States Code, or any other provision of law, an eligible 
                entity that received an award under this subsection 
                shall not be required--
                            ``(i) to repay that award or any part of 
                        that award; or
                            ``(ii) to pay a dividend, interest, or 
                        other similar payment based on the sum of that 
                        award.''.

          Subtitle C--Siting, Licensing, and Oversight Reviews

SEC. 121. MODERNIZATION OF NUCLEAR REACTOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (in this section 
referred to as the ``Commission'') shall submit to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the efforts of 
the Commission to facilitate efficient, timely, and predictable 
environmental reviews of nuclear reactor applications, including 
through expanded use of categorical exclusions, environmental 
assessments, and generic environmental impact statements.
    (b) Report.--In completing the report under subsection (a), the 
Commission shall--
            (1) describe the actions the Commission will take to 
        implement the amendments to the National Environmental Policy 
        Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) made by section 321 of the 
        Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023;
            (2) consider--
                    (A) using through adoption, incorporation by 
                reference, or other appropriate means, categorical 
                exclusions, environmental assessments, and 
                environmental impact statements prepared by other 
                Federal agencies to streamline environmental reviews of 
                nuclear reactor applications by the Commission;
                    (B) using categorical exclusions, environmental 
                assessments, and environmental impact statements 
                prepared by the Commission to streamline environmental 
                reviews of nuclear reactor applications by the 
                Commission;
                    (C) using mitigated findings of no significant 
                impact in environmental reviews of nuclear reactor 
                applications by the Commission to reduce the impact of 
                a proposed action to a level that is not significant;
                    (D) the extent to which the Commission may rely on 
                prior studies or analyses prepared by Federal, State, 
                and local governmental permitting agencies to 
                streamline environmental reviews of nuclear reactor 
                applications by the Commission;
                    (E) opportunities to coordinate the development of 
                environmental assessments and environmental impact 
                statements with other Federal agencies to avoid 
                duplicative environmental reviews and to streamline 
                environmental reviews of nuclear reactor applications 
                by the Commission;
                    (F) opportunities to streamline formal and informal 
                consultations and coordination with other Federal, 
                State, and local governmental permitting agencies 
                during environmental reviews of nuclear reactor 
                applications by the Commission;
                    (G) opportunities to streamline the Commission's 
                analyses of alternatives, including the Commission's 
                analysis of alternative sites, in environmental reviews 
                of nuclear reactor applications by the Commission;
                    (H) establishing new categorical exclusions that 
                could be applied to actions relating to new nuclear 
                reactors applications;
                    (I) amending section 51.20(b) of title 10, Code of 
                Federal Regulations, to allow the Commission to 
                determine on a case-specific basis whether an 
                environmental assessment (rather than an environmental 
                impact statement or supplemental environmental impact 
                statement) is appropriate for a particular nuclear 
                reactor application, including in proceedings in which 
                the Commission relies upon a generic environmental 
                impact statement for advanced nuclear reactors;
                    (J) authorizing the use of an applicant's 
                environmental impact statement as the Commission's 
                draft environmental impact statement, consistent with 
                section 107(f) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
                of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336a(f));
                    (K) opportunities to adopt online and digital 
                technologies, including technologies that would allow 
                applicants and cooperating agencies to upload documents 
                and coordinate with the Commission to edit documents in 
                real time, that would streamline communications 
                between--
                            (i) the Commission and applicants; and
                            (ii) the Commission and other relevant 
                        cooperating agencies;
                    (L) in addition to implementing measures under 
                subsection (c), potential revisions to part 51 of title 
                10, Code of Federal Regulations, and relevant 
                Commission guidance documents, to--
                            (i) facilitate efficient, timely, and 
                        predictable environmental reviews of nuclear 
                        reactor applications;
                            (ii) assist decision-making about relevant 
                        environmental issues;
                            (iii) maintain openness with the public;
                            (iv) meet obligations under the National 
                        Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
                        4321 et seq.); and
                            (v) reduce burdens on licensees, 
                        applicants, and the Commission; and
            (3) include a schedule for promulgating the rule required 
        under subsection (c).
    (c) Rulemaking.--Not later than 2 years after the submission of the 
report under subsection (a), the Commission shall promulgate a final 
rule implementing, to the maximum extent practicable, measures 
considered by the Commission under subsection (b)(2) that are necessary 
to streamline the Commission's review of nuclear reactor applications.

SEC. 122. NUCLEAR FOR BROWNFIELD SITES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Brownfield site.--The term ``brownfield site'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 101 of the Comprehensive 
        Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 
        (42 U.S.C. 9601).
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Nuclear 
        Regulatory Commission.
            (3) Covered site.--The term ``covered site'' means a 
        brownfield site, a retired fossil fuel site, or a site that is 
        both a retired fossil fuel site and a brownfield site.
            (4) Production facility.--The term ``production facility'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 11 of the Atomic 
        Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014).
            (5) Retired fossil fuel site.--The term ``retired fossil 
        fuel site'' means the site of 1 or more fossil fuel electric 
        generation facilities that are retired or scheduled to retire, 
        including multiunit facilities that are partially shut down.
            (6) Utilization facility.--The term ``utilization 
        facility'' has the meaning given the term in section 11 of the 
        Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014).
    (b) Identification of Regulatory Issues.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall evaluate the extent 
        to which modification of regulations, guidance, or policy is 
        needed to enable efficient, timely, and predictable licensing 
        reviews for, and to support the oversight of, production 
        facilities or utilization facilities at covered sites.
            (2) Requirement.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Commission shall consider how licensing reviews for production 
        facilities or utilization facilities at covered sites may be 
        expedited by--
                    (A) siting and operating a production facility or a 
                utilization facility at or near existing site 
                infrastructure to support the reuse of such 
                infrastructure, including--
                            (i) electric switchyard components and 
                        transmission infrastructure;
                            (ii) heat-sink components;
                            (iii) steam cycle components;
                            (iv) roads;
                            (v) railroad access; and
                            (vi) water availability;
                    (B) using early site permits;
                    (C) using plant parameter envelopes or similar 
                standardized site parameters on a portion of a larger 
                site; and
                    (D) using a standardized application for similar 
                sites.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 14 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress a report describing any 
        regulations, guidance, and policies evaluated under paragraph 
        (1).
    (c) Licensing.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall, based on the 
        evaluation under subsection (b)--
                    (A) develop and implement strategies to enable 
                efficient, timely, and predictable licensing reviews 
                for, and to support the oversight of, production 
                facilities or utilization facilities at covered sites; 
                and
                    (B) initiate a rulemaking to enable efficient, 
                timely, and predictable licensing reviews for, and to 
                support the oversight of, production facilities or 
                utilization facilities at covered sites.
            (2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), 
        consistent with the mission of the Commission, the Commission 
        shall consider matters relating to--
                    (A) the use of existing site infrastructure;
                    (B) existing emergency preparedness organizations 
                and planning;
                    (C) the availability of historical site-specific 
                environmental data;
                    (D) previously completed environmental reviews 
                required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 
                1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
                    (E) activities associated with the potential 
                decommissioning of facilities or decontamination and 
                remediation at covered sites; and
                    (F) community engagement and historical experience 
                with energy production.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report describing the 
actions taken by the Commission under subsection (c)(1).

SEC. 123. ADVANCEMENT OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY OVERSIGHT.

    (a) Implementing Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Health 
Emergency.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress a report on actions taken by 
        the Commission during the public health emergency declared by 
        the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of 
        the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 
        2020, with respect to COVID-19.
            (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) identify any processes, procedures, and other 
                regulatory policies that the Commission revised or 
                temporarily suspended during the public health 
                emergency described in paragraph (1);
                    (B) examine how any revision or temporary 
                suspension of a process, procedure, or other regulatory 
                policy identified under subparagraph (A) affected the 
                ability of the Commission to license and regulate the 
                civilian use of radioactive materials in the United 
                States to protect public health and safety, promote the 
                common defense and security, and protect the 
                environment;
                    (C) discuss lessons learned from the matters 
                described in subparagraph (B);
                    (D) list actions that the Commission has taken or 
                will take to incorporate into the licensing and 
                oversight activities of the Commission, without 
                compromising the mission of the Commission, the lessons 
                described in subparagraph (C); and
                    (E) describe when the actions listed under 
                subparagraph (D) were implemented or may be 
                implemented.
    (b) Advancing Efficient, Risk-informed Oversight and Inspections.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall develop and submit 
        to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that 
        identifies specific improvements to the nuclear reactor and 
        materials oversight and inspection programs carried out 
        pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 that the Commission 
        may implement to maximize the efficiency of such programs 
        through, where appropriate, the use of risk-informed, 
        performance-based procedures, expanded incorporation of 
        information technologies, and staff training.
            (2) Stakeholder input.--In developing the report under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall, as appropriate, seek input 
        from--
                    (A) the Secretary of Energy;
                    (B) the National Laboratories;
                    (C) the nuclear energy industry; and
                    (D) nongovernmental organizations that are related 
                to nuclear energy.
            (3) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) assess specific elements of oversight and 
                inspections that may be modified by the use of 
                technology, improved planning, and continually updated 
                risk-informed, performance-based assessment, 
                including--
                            (i) use of travel resources;
                            (ii) planning and preparation for 
                        inspections, including entrance and exit 
                        meetings with licensees;
                            (iii) document collection and preparation, 
                        including consideration of whether nuclear 
                        reactor data are accessible prior to onsite 
                        visits or requests to the licensee and that 
                        document requests are timely and within the 
                        scope of inspections;
                            (iv) the cross-cutting issues program; and
                            (v) the scope of event reporting required 
                        by licensees to ensure decisions are risk-
                        informed;
                    (B) identify and assess measures to improve 
                oversight and inspections, including--
                            (i) elimination of areas of duplicative or 
                        otherwise unnecessary activities;
                            (ii) increased use of templates in 
                        documenting inspection results; and
                            (iii) periodic training of Commission staff 
                        and leadership on the application of risk-
                        informed criteria for--
                                    (I) inspection planning and 
                                assessments;
                                    (II) agency decision making 
                                processes on the application of 
                                regulations and guidance; and
                                    (III) the application of the 
                                Commission's standard of reasonable 
                                assurance of adequate protection;
                    (C) assess measures to advance risk-informed 
                procedures, including--
                            (i) increased use of inspection approaches 
                        that balance the level of resources 
                        commensurate with safety significance;
                            (ii) increased review of the use of 
                        inspection program resources based on licensee 
                        performance;
                            (iii) expansion of modern information 
                        technology, including artificial intelligence 
                        and machine learning to risk inform oversight 
                        and inspection decisions; and
                            (iv) updating the Differing Professional 
                        Views or Opinions process to ensure any impacts 
                        on agency decisions and schedules are 
                        commensurate with the safety significance of 
                        the differing opinion;
                    (D) assess the ability of the Commission, 
                consistent with its obligations to provide reasonable 
                assurance of adequate protection of health and safety 
                pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, to enable 
                licensee innovations that may advance nuclear reactor 
                operational efficiency and safety, including the 
                criteria of the Commission for timely acceptance of 
                licensee adoption of advanced technologies, including 
                digital technologies;
                    (E) identify recommendations resulting from the 
                assessments described in subparagraphs (A) through (D);
                    (F) identify specific actions that the Commission 
                will take to incorporate into the training, inspection, 
                oversight, and licensing activities, and regulations of 
                the Commission, without compromising the mission of the 
                Commission, the recommendations identified under 
                subparagraph (E); and
                    (G) describe when the actions identified under 
                subparagraph (F) may be implemented.
    (c) Office and Facility Space Review.--
            (1) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall--
                    (A) review office and other facility space 
                requirements of the Commission; and
                    (B) submit to the appropriate committees of 
                Congress a report, with recommendations, on the results 
                of such review.
            (2) Contents.--The report described in paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    (A) an examination of--
                            (i) the costs associated with the 
                        headquarters, regional offices, and technical 
                        training center of the Commission, including 
                        examination of--
                                    (I) costs that do not support the 
                                Commission's mission, including rent 
                                subsidies for other Federal agencies; 
                                and
                                    (II) opportunities to reduce future 
                                costs through reduction in unnecessary 
                                office space, consolidation of offices, 
                                use of advanced information technology, 
                                or any other appropriate means; and
                            (ii) current and anticipated office and 
                        facility requirements to efficiently accomplish 
                        the mission of the Commission; and
                    (B) recommendations to Congress, the Commission, 
                and the General Services Administration for actions 
                that may assist in reducing office and facility costs 
                to licensees and taxpayers.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on 
        Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Nuclear 
        Regulatory Commission.
            (3) Licensee.--The term ``licensee'' means a person that 
        holds a license issued under section 103 or section 104 of the 
        Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2133; 2134).

                TITLE II--NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT

SEC. 201. ADVANCED NUCLEAR DEPLOYMENT.

    (a) Enabling Preparations for Advanced Nuclear Reactor 
Demonstrations on Federal Sites.--
            (1) In general.--Section 102(b)(1)(B) of the Nuclear Energy 
        Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215(b)(1)(B)) is 
        further amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vi) Costs for--
                                    ``(I) activities to review and 
                                approve or disapprove an application 
                                for an early site permit (as defined in 
                                section 52.1 of title 10, Code of 
                                Federal Regulations (or any successor 
                                regulation)) to demonstrate an advanced 
                                nuclear reactor on a Department of 
                                Energy site or any site or installation 
                                that is critical national security 
                                infrastructure (as defined in section 
                                327(d) of the John S. McCain National 
                                Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
                                Year 2019); and
                                    ``(II) pre-application activities 
                                relating to an early site permit (as so 
                                defined) to demonstrate an advanced 
                                nuclear reactor on a Department of 
                                Energy site or any site or installation 
                                that is critical national security 
                                infrastructure (as defined in section 
                                327(d) of the John S. McCain National 
                                Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
                                Year 2019).''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect on October 1, 2024.
    (b) Regulatory Requirements for Micro-reactors.--
            (1) Micro-reactor licensing.--The Nuclear Regulatory 
        Commission (in this subsection referred to as the 
        ``Commission'') shall--
                    (A) not later than 18 months after the date of 
                enactment of this Act, develop risk-informed and 
                performance-based strategies and guidance to license 
                and regulate micro-reactors pursuant to section 103 of 
                the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2133), 
                including strategies and guidance for--
                            (i) staffing and operations;
                            (ii) oversight and inspections;
                            (iii) safeguards and security;
                            (iv) emergency preparedness;
                            (v) risk analysis methods, including 
                        alternatives to probabilistic risk assessments;
                            (vi) decommissioning funding assurance 
                        methods that permit the use of design- and 
                        site-specific cost estimates;
                            (vii) the transportation of fueled micro-
                        reactors; and
                            (viii) siting, including in relation to--
                                    (I) the population density 
                                criterion limit described in the policy 
                                issue paper on population-related 
                                siting considerations for advanced 
                                reactors dated May 8, 2020, and 
                                numbered SECY-20-0045;
                                    (II) licensing mobile deployment; 
                                and
                                    (III) environmental reviews; and
                    (B) not later than 3 years after the date of 
                enactment of this Act, implement, as appropriate, the 
                strategies and guidance developed under subparagraph 
                (A)--
                            (i) within the existing regulatory 
                        framework;
                            (ii) through the technology-inclusive, 
                        regulatory framework to be established under 
                        section 103(a)(4)(A) of the Nuclear Energy 
                        Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 
                        2133 note; Public Law 115-439); or
                            (iii) through a pending or new rulemaking.
            (2) Considerations.--In developing and implementing 
        strategies and guidance under paragraph (1), the Commission 
        shall consider--
                    (A) the unique characteristics of micro-reactors, 
                including characteristics relating to--
                            (i) physical size;
                            (ii) design simplicity; and
                            (iii) source term;
                    (B) opportunities to address redundancies and 
                inefficiencies;
                    (C) opportunities to consolidate review phases and 
                reduce transitions between review teams;
                    (D) opportunities to establish integrated review 
                teams to ensure continuity throughout the review 
                process; and
                    (E) other relevant considerations discussed in the 
                policy issue paper on policy and licensing 
                considerations related to micro-reactors dated October 
                6, 2020, and numbered SECY-20-0093.
            (3) Consultation.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Commission shall consult with--
                    (A) the Secretary of Energy;
                    (B) the heads of other Federal agencies, as 
                appropriate;
                    (C) micro-reactor technology developers; and
                    (D) other stakeholders.
    (c) Expedited Subsequent Combined Licenses.--
            (1) In general.--In accordance with this subsection, the 
        Nuclear Regulatory Commission (referred to in this subsection 
        as the ``Commission'') shall establish and carry out an 
        expedited procedure for issuing a combined license pursuant to 
        section 185 b. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 
        2235).
            (2) Qualifications.--To qualify for the expedited procedure 
        under paragraph (1), an applicant--
                    (A) shall submit a combined license application for 
                a new nuclear reactor based off a previously licensed 
                design;
                    (B) shall propose to construct the new nuclear 
                reactor on or adjacent to a site on which a nuclear 
                reactor already operates or previously operated; and
                    (C) may not be subject to an order of the 
                Commission to suspend or revoke a license under section 
                2.202 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or any 
                successor regulation).
            (3) Expedited procedure.--With respect to a combined 
        license for which the applicant has satisfied the requirements 
        described in paragraph (2), the Commission shall, to the 
        maximum extent practicable--
                    (A) not later than 1 year after the application is 
                accepted for docketing, issue a draft environmental 
                impact statement;
                    (B) not later than 18 months after the application 
                is accepted for docketing--
                            (i) complete the technical review process; 
                        and
                            (ii) issue a safety evaluation report and 
                        final environmental impact statement;
                    (C) not later than 2 years after the application is 
                accepted for docketing, complete any necessary public 
                licensing hearings and related processes; and
                    (D) not later than 25 months after the application 
                is accepted for docketing, make a final decision on 
                whether to issue the combined license.
            (4) Performance and reporting.--
                    (A) Delays in issuance.--Not later than 30 days 
                after the applicable deadline, the Executive Director 
                for Operations of the Commission shall inform the 
                Commission of any failure to meet a deadline under 
                paragraph (3).
                    (B) Delays in issuance exceeding 90 days.--If any 
                deadline under paragraph (3) is not met by the date 
                that is 90 days after the applicable date required 
                under such paragraph, the Commission shall submit to 
                the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the 
                Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
                House of Representatives a report describing the delay, 
                including a detailed explanation accounting for the 
                delay and a plan for completion of the applicable 
                action.
    (d) Pilot Program for Nuclear Power Purchase Agreements.--
            (1) In general.--Subtitle B of title VI of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58; 119 Stat. 782) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 639A. LONG-TERM NUCLEAR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT PILOT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary may establish a pilot program 
under which the Secretary may enter into at least one long-term power 
purchase agreement for power generated by a commercial nuclear reactor 
with respect to which an initial operating license is issued by the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission after January 1, 2024.
    ``(b) Consultation.--In establishing a pilot program under this 
section, the Secretary shall consult with the heads of other Federal 
departments and agencies that may benefit from purchasing nuclear power 
for a period of longer than 10 years, including the Secretary of 
Defense.
    ``(c) Period of Agreement.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, an agreement entered into pursuant to this section to purchase 
power from a commercial nuclear reactor shall be made for a period of 
at least 10 years and not more than 40 years.
    ``(d) Priority.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall 
prioritize entering into long-term power purchase agreements for power 
generated by first-of-a-kind or early deployment commercial nuclear 
reactors that will provide reliable and resilient power--
            ``(1) to high-value assets for national security purposes; 
        or
            ``(2) for other purposes that the Secretary determines are 
        in the national interest, including for remote off-grid 
        scenarios or grid-connected scenarios that provide capabilities 
        commonly known as `islanding power capabilities' during an 
        emergency.
    ``(e) Rates.--A long-term power purchase agreement entered into 
under this section may not be at a rate that is higher than the average 
market rate, unless the agreement is for power generated by a 
commercial nuclear reactor described in subsection (d).
    ``(f) Advanced Funding.--The Secretary--
            ``(1) may not enter into any power purchase agreement under 
        this section unless funds are specifically provided for such 
        purposes in advance in appropriations Acts enacted after the 
        date of enactment of this section; and
            ``(2) may only enter into such a power purchase agreement 
        if the full extent of anticipated costs stemming from such 
        agreement is recorded as an obligation up front and in full at 
        the time such agreement is made.''.
            (2) Table of contents.--The table of contents of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58; 119 Stat. 594) is 
        amended by inserting after the item relating to section 639 the 
        following:

``Sec. 639A. Long-term nuclear power purchase agreement pilot 
                            program.''.

SEC. 202. GLOBAL NUCLEAR COOPERATION.

    (a) Global Nuclear Energy Assessment Study.--
            (1) Study required.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of 
        Commerce, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
        Agency, and the Commission, shall conduct a study on the global 
        status of--
                    (A) the civilian nuclear energy industry; and
                    (B) the supply chains of the civilian nuclear 
                energy industry.
            (2) Contents.--The study conducted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include--
                    (A) information on the status of the civilian 
                nuclear energy industry, the long-term risks to such 
                industry, and the basis for such risks;
                    (B) information on how the use of the civilian 
                nuclear energy industry, relative to other types of 
                energy industries, can reduce the emission of criteria 
                pollutants and carbon dioxide;
                    (C) information on the role the United States 
                civilian nuclear energy industry plays in United States 
                foreign policy;
                    (D) information on the importance of the United 
                States civilian nuclear energy industry to countries 
                that are allied to the United States;
                    (E) information on how the United States may 
                collaborate with such countries in developing, 
                deploying, and investing in nuclear technology;
                    (F) information on how foreign countries use 
                nuclear energy when crafting and implementing their own 
                foreign policy, including such use by foreign countries 
                that are strategic competitors;
                    (G) an evaluation of how nuclear nonproliferation 
                and security efforts and nuclear energy safety are 
                affected by the involvement of the United States in--
                            (i) international markets; and
                            (ii) setting civilian nuclear energy 
                        industry standards;
                    (H) an evaluation of how industries in the United 
                States, other than the civilian nuclear energy 
                industry, benefit from the generation of electricity by 
                nuclear power plants;
                    (I) information on utilities and companies in the 
                United States that are involved in the civilian nuclear 
                energy supply chain, including, with respect to such 
                utilities and companies--
                            (i) financial challenges;
                            (ii) nuclear liability issues;
                            (iii) foreign strategic competition; and
                            (iv) risks to continued operation; and
                    (J) recommendations for how the United States may--
                            (i) develop a national strategy to increase 
                        the role nuclear energy plays in diplomacy and 
                        strategic energy policy;
                            (ii) develop a strategy to mitigate foreign 
                        competitor's utilization of their civilian 
                        nuclear energy industries in diplomacy;
                            (iii) align its nuclear energy policy with 
                        national security objectives; and
                            (iv) remove regulatory barriers to the 
                        development of the United States civilian 
                        nuclear energy supply chain.
            (3) Report to congress.--Not later than 6 months after the 
        study is conducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Energy 
        shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        report, including a classified annex as necessary, on the 
        results of such study.
    (b) Program to Train and Share Expertise.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation 
        with the Secretary of State and the Commission, shall develop 
        and carry out a program under which the Secretary of Energy 
        shall train foreign nuclear energy experts and standardize 
        practices.
            (2) Requirements.--In carrying out the program developed 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Energy shall--
                    (A) issue guidance for best safety practices in the 
                global civilian nuclear energy industry based on 
                practices established in the United States;
                    (B) train foreign nuclear energy experts on the 
                operation and safety and security practices used by the 
                United States civilian nuclear energy industry;
                    (C) review global supply chain risks for foreign 
                civilian nuclear energy industries;
                    (D) identify weaknesses and concerns found in 
                foreign civilian nuclear energy industries; and
                    (E) establish partnerships with foreign countries 
                that have developed or are developing civilian nuclear 
                energy industries.
            (3) Foreign nuclear energy expert.--In this subsection, the 
        term ``foreign nuclear energy expert'' does not include a 
        person who is from a country--
                    (A) in which intellectual property theft is legal;
                    (B) that takes actions to undermine the civilian 
                nuclear energy industry or other critical industries of 
                the United States; or
                    (C) which the Secretary of Energy determines is 
                inimical to the interest of the United States.
    (c) International Nuclear Reactor Export and Innovation 
Activities.--
            (1) Coordination.--The Commission shall--
                    (A) coordinate all work of the Commission relating 
                to--
                            (i) issuing a license for the import or 
                        export of a nuclear reactor under section 103 
                        of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 
                        2133); and
                            (ii) international regulatory cooperation 
                        and assistance relating to nuclear reactors; 
                        and
                    (B) support--
                            (i) the consideration of international 
                        technical standards to assist the design, 
                        licensing, and construction of advanced nuclear 
                        systems;
                            (ii) efforts to help build competent 
                        nuclear regulatory organizations and legal 
                        frameworks in foreign countries that are 
                        seeking to develop civilian nuclear energy 
                        industries; and
                            (iii) exchange programs and training 
                        provided in coordination with the Secretary of 
                        State to foreign countries relating to civilian 
                        nuclear energy industry regulation and 
                        oversight to improve nuclear technology 
                        licensing.
            (2) Consultation.--In supporting exchange programs and 
        training under paragraph (1)(B)(iii), the Commission shall 
        consult with--
                    (A) the Secretary of Energy;
                    (B) the Secretary of State;
                    (C) the National Laboratories;
                    (D) the private sector; and
                    (E) institutions of higher education.
            (3) Nuclear reactor export and innovation branch.--The 
        Commission may establish within the Office of International 
        Programs of the Commission a branch, to be known as the 
        ``International Nuclear Reactor Export and Innovation Branch'', 
        to carry out the nuclear reactor export and innovation 
        activities described in paragraph (1) as the Commission 
        determines appropriate.
            (4) Exclusion of international activities from the fee 
        base.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 102 of the Nuclear Energy 
                Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215) is 
                amended--
                            (i) in subsection (a), by adding at the end 
                        the following:
            ``(4) International nuclear reactor export and innovation 
        activities.--The Commission shall identify in the annual budget 
        justification international nuclear reactor export and 
        innovation activities described in section 202(c)(1) of the 
        Atomic Energy Advancement Act.''; and
                            (ii) in subsection (b)(1)(B), as amended by 
                        the preceding provisions of this Act, by adding 
                        at the end the following:
                            ``(vii) Costs for international nuclear 
                        reactor export and innovation activities 
                        described in section 202(c)(1) of the Atomic 
                        Energy Advancement Act.''.
                    (B) Effective date.--The amendments made by 
                subparagraph (A) shall take effect on October 1, 2024.
    (d) Denial of Certain Domestic Licenses for National Security 
Purposes.--
            (1) Definition of covered fuel.--In this subsection, the 
        term ``covered fuel'' means enriched uranium that is fabricated 
        into fuel assemblies for nuclear reactors by an entity that--
                    (A) is owned or controlled by the Government of the 
                Russian Federation or the Government of the People's 
                Republic of China; or
                    (B) is organized under the laws of, or otherwise 
                subject to the jurisdiction of, the Russian Federation 
                or the People's Republic of China.
            (2) Prohibition on unlicensed possession or ownership of 
        covered fuel.--Unless specifically authorized by the Commission 
        in a license issued under section 53 of the Atomic Energy Act 
        of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2073), no person subject to the jurisdiction 
        of the Commission may possess or own covered fuel.
            (3) License to possess or own covered fuel.--
                    (A) Consultation required prior to issuance.--The 
                Commission shall not issue a license to possess or own 
                covered fuel under section 53 of the Atomic Energy Act 
                of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2073) unless the Commission has 
                first consulted with the Secretary of Energy and the 
                Secretary of State before issuing the license.
                    (B) Prohibition on issuance of license.--
                            (i) In general.--Subject to clause (iii), a 
                        license to possess or own covered fuel shall 
                        not be issued if the Secretary of Energy and 
                        the Secretary of State make the determination 
                        described in clause (ii).
                            (ii) Determination.--
                                    (I) In general.--The determination 
                                referred to in clause (i) is a 
                                determination that possession or 
                                ownership, as applicable, of covered 
                                fuel poses a threat to the national 
                                security of the United States that 
                                adversely impacts the physical and 
                                economic security of the United States.
                                    (II) Joint determination.--A 
                                determination described in subclause 
                                (I) shall be jointly made by the 
                                Secretary of Energy and the Secretary 
                                of State.
                                    (III) Timeline.--
                                            (aa) Notice of 
                                        application.--Not later than 30 
                                        days after the date on which 
                                        the Commission receives an 
                                        application for a license to 
                                        possess or own covered fuel, 
                                        the Commission shall notify the 
                                        Secretary of Energy and the 
                                        Secretary of State of the 
                                        application.
                                            (bb) Determination.--The 
                                        Secretary of Energy and the 
                                        Secretary of State shall have a 
                                        period of 180 days, beginning 
                                        on the date on which the 
                                        Commission notifies the 
                                        Secretary of Energy and the 
                                        Secretary of State under item 
                                        (aa) of an application for a 
                                        license to possess or own 
                                        covered fuel, in which to make 
                                        the determination described in 
                                        subclause (I).
                                            (cc) Commission 
                                        notification.--On making the 
                                        determination described in 
                                        subclause (I), the Secretary of 
                                        Energy and the Secretary of 
                                        State shall immediately notify 
                                        the Commission.
                                            (dd) Congressional 
                                        notification.--Not later than 
                                        30 days after the date on which 
                                        the Secretary of Energy and the 
                                        Secretary of State notify the 
                                        Commission under item (cc), the 
                                        Commission shall notify the 
                                        appropriate committees of 
                                        Congress of the determination.
                                            (ee) Public notice.--Not 
                                        later than 15 days after the 
                                        date on which the Commission 
                                        notifies Congress under item 
                                        (dd) of a determination made 
                                        under subclause (I), the 
                                        Commission shall make that 
                                        determination publicly 
                                        available.
                            (iii) Effect of no determination.--The 
                        prohibition described in clause (i) shall not 
                        apply if the Secretary of Energy and the 
                        Secretary of State do not make the 
                        determination described in clause (ii) by the 
                        date described in subclause (III)(bb) of that 
                        clause.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means each of the 
        following:
                    (A) The Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
                House of Representatives.
                    (B) The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives.
                    (C) The Committee on Environment and Public Works 
                of the Senate.
                    (D) The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
                of the Senate.
                    (E) The Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Nuclear 
        Regulatory Commission.

SEC. 203. AMERICAN NUCLEAR COMPETITIVENESS.

    (a) Process for Review and Amendment of Part 810 Generally 
Authorized Destinations.--
            (1) Identification and evaluation of factors.--Not later 
        than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
        Secretary of Energy, with the concurrence of the Secretary of 
        State, shall identify and evaluate factors, other than 
        agreements for cooperation entered into in accordance with 
        section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2153), 
        that may be used to determine a country's generally authorized 
        destination status under part 810 of title 10, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, and to list such country as a generally authorized 
        destination in Appendix A to part 810 of title 10, Code of 
        Federal Regulations.
            (2) Process update.--The Secretary of Energy shall review 
        and, as appropriate, update the Department of Energy's process 
        for determining a country's generally authorized destination 
        status under part 810 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, 
        and for listing such country as a generally authorized 
        destination in Appendix A to part 810 of title 10, Code of 
        Federal Regulations, taking into consideration, and, as 
        appropriate, incorporating factors identified and evaluated 
        under paragraph (1).
            (3) Revisions to list.--Not later than one year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, and at least once every 5 years 
        thereafter, the Secretary of Energy shall, in accordance with 
        any process updated pursuant to this subsection, review the 
        list in Appendix A to part 810 of title 10, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, and amend such list as appropriate.
    (b) Licensing Domestic Nuclear Projects in Which United States 
Allies Invest.--
            (1) In general.--The prohibitions against issuing certain 
        licenses for utilization facilities to certain aliens, 
        corporations, and other entities described in the second 
        sentence of section 103 d. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
        U.S.C. 2133(d)) and the second sentence of section 104 d. of 
        that Act (42 U.S.C. 2134(d)) shall not apply to an entity 
        described in paragraph (2) of this subsection if the Nuclear 
        Regulatory Commission determines that issuance of the 
        applicable license to that entity is not inimical to--
                    (A) the common defense and security; or
                    (B) the health and safety of the public.
            (2) Entities described.--
                    (A) In general.--An entity referred to in paragraph 
                (1) is an alien, corporation, or other entity that is 
                owned, controlled, or dominated by--
                            (i) the government of--
                                    (I) a country, other than a country 
                                described in subparagraph (B), that is 
                                a member of the Organization for 
                                Economic Co-operation and Development 
                                on the date of enactment of this Act; 
                                or
                                    (II) the Republic of India;
                            (ii) a corporation that is incorporated in 
                        a country described in subclause (I) or (II) of 
                        clause (i); or
                            (iii) an alien who is a citizen or national 
                        of a country described in subclause (I) or (II) 
                        of clause (i).
                    (B) Exclusion.--A country described in this 
                subparagraph is a country--
                            (i) any department, agency, or 
                        instrumentality of the government of which, on 
                        the date of enactment of this Act, is subject 
                        to sanctions under section 231 of the 
                        Countering America's Adversaries Through 
                        Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9525); or
                            (ii) any citizen, national, or entity of 
                        which, as of the date of enactment of this Act, 
                        is included on the List of Specially Designated 
                        Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the 
                        Office of Foreign Assets Control of the 
                        Department of the Treasury pursuant to 
                        sanctions imposed under section 231 of the 
                        Countering America's Adversaries Through 
                        Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9525).
            (3) Technical amendment.--Section 103 d. of the Atomic 
        Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2133(d)) is amended, in the 
        second sentence, by striking ``any any'' and inserting ``any''.
            (4) Savings clause.--Nothing in this subsection affects the 
        requirements of section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 
        1950 (50 U.S.C. 4565).
    (c) Licensing Considerations Relating to Use of Nuclear Energy for 
Nonelectric Applications.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (in 
        this subsection referred to as the ``Commission'') shall submit 
        to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public 
        Works of the Senate a report addressing any unique licensing 
        issues or requirements relating to--
                    (A) the flexible operation of advanced nuclear 
                reactors, such as ramping power output and switching 
                between electricity generation and nonelectric 
                applications;
                    (B) the use of advanced nuclear reactors 
                exclusively for nonelectric applications; and
                    (C) the collocation of advanced nuclear reactors 
                with industrial plants or other facilities.
            (2) Stakeholder input.--In developing the report under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall seek input from--
                    (A) the Secretary of Energy;
                    (B) the nuclear energy industry;
                    (C) technology developers;
                    (D) the industrial, chemical, and medical sectors;
                    (E) nongovernmental organizations; and
                    (F) other public stakeholders.
            (3) Contents.--The report under paragraph (1) shall 
        describe--
                    (A) any unique licensing issues or requirements 
                relating to the matters described in subparagraphs (A) 
                through (C) of paragraph (1), including, with respect 
                to the nonelectric applications referred to in 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B) of that paragraph, any 
                licensing issues or requirements relating to the use of 
                nuclear energy--
                            (i) for hydrogen or other liquid and 
                        gaseous fuel or chemical production;
                            (ii) for water desalination and wastewater 
                        treatment;
                            (iii) for heat used in industrial 
                        processes;
                            (iv) for district heating;
                            (v) in relation to energy storage;
                            (vi) for industrial or medical isotope 
                        production; and
                            (vii) other applications, as identified by 
                        the Commission;
                    (B) options for addressing such issues or 
                requirements--
                            (i) within the existing regulatory 
                        framework;
                            (ii) through the technology-inclusive, 
                        regulatory framework to be established under 
                        section 103(a)(4)(A) of the Nuclear Energy 
                        Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 
                        2133 note; Public Law 115-439); or
                            (iii) through a new rulemaking;
                    (C) the extent to which Commission action is needed 
                to implement any matter described in the report; and
                    (D) cost estimates, proposed budgets, and proposed 
                timeframes for implementing risk-informed and 
                performance-based regulatory guidance for licensing 
                advanced nuclear reactors for nonelectric applications.
    (d) Report on Advanced Methods of Manufacturing and Construction 
for Nuclear Energy Projects.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (in 
        this subsection referred to as the ``Commission'') shall submit 
        to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public 
        Works of the Senate a report on advanced methods of 
        manufacturing and construction for nuclear energy projects.
            (2) Stakeholder input.--In developing the report under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall seek input from--
                    (A) the Secretary of Energy;
                    (B) the nuclear energy industry;
                    (C) the National Laboratories;
                    (D) institutions of higher education;
                    (E) nuclear and manufacturing technology 
                developers;
                    (F) the manufacturing and construction industries;
                    (G) standards development organizations;
                    (H) labor unions;
                    (I) nongovernmental organizations; and
                    (J) other public stakeholders.
            (3) Contents.--
                    (A) In general.--The report under paragraph (1) 
                shall--
                            (i) examine any unique licensing issues or 
                        requirements relating to the use, for nuclear 
                        energy projects, of--
                                    (I) advanced manufacturing 
                                techniques; and
                                    (II) advanced construction 
                                techniques;
                            (ii) examine--
                                    (I) the requirements for nuclear-
                                grade components in manufacturing and 
                                construction for nuclear energy 
                                projects;
                                    (II) opportunities to use standard 
                                materials, parts, or components in 
                                manufacturing and construction for 
                                nuclear energy applications; and
                                    (III) opportunities to use standard 
                                materials that are in compliance with 
                                existing codes and standards to provide 
                                acceptable approaches to support or 
                                encapsulate new materials that do not 
                                yet have applicable codes or standards;
                            (iii) identify safety aspects of advanced 
                        manufacturing processes and advanced 
                        construction techniques that are not addressed 
                        by existing codes and standards, so that 
                        generic guidance for nuclear energy projects 
                        may be updated or created as necessary by the 
                        Commission;
                            (iv) identify options for addressing the 
                        issues, requirements, and opportunities 
                        examined under clauses (i) and (ii)--
                                    (I) within the existing regulatory 
                                framework; or
                                    (II) through a new rulemaking; and
                            (v) describe the extent to which Commission 
                        action is needed to implement any matter 
                        described in the report.
                    (B) Cost estimates, budgets, and timeframes.--The 
                report under paragraph (1) shall include cost 
                estimates, proposed budgets, and proposed timeframes 
                for implementing risk-informed and performance-based 
                regulatory guidance for advanced manufacturing and 
                construction for nuclear energy projects.
    (e) Extension of the Price-Anderson Act.--
            (1) Extension.--Section 170 of the Atomic Energy Act of 
        1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210) (commonly known as the ``Price-Anderson 
        Act'') is amended by striking ``December 31, 2025'' each place 
        it appears and inserting ``December 31, 2065''.
            (2) Liability.--Section 170 of the Atomic Energy Act of 
        1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210) (commonly known as the ``Price-Anderson 
        Act'') is amended--
                    (A) in subsection d. (5), by striking 
                ``$500,000,000'' and inserting ``$2,000,000,000''; and
                    (B) in subsection e. (4), by striking 
                ``$500,000,000'' and inserting ``$2,000,000,000''.
            (3) Report.--Section 170 p. of the Atomic Energy Act of 
        1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210(p)) (commonly known as the ``Price-
        Anderson Act'') is amended by striking ``December 31, 2021'' 
        and inserting ``December 31, 2061''.
            (4) Definition of nuclear incident.--Section 11 q. of the 
        Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014(q)) is amended, in 
        the second proviso, by striking ``if such occurrence'' and all 
        that follows through ``United States:'' and inserting a colon.
    (f) Risk Pooling Program Assessment.--
            (1) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall carry out 
        a review of, and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report on, the 
        Secretary of Energy's actions with respect to the program 
        described in section 934(e) of the Energy Independence and 
        Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17373(e)).
            (2) Contents.--The report described in paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    (A) an evaluation of the Secretary of Energy's 
                actions to determine the risk-informed assessment 
                formula under section 934(e)(2)(C) of the Energy 
                Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 
                17373(e)(2)(C)); and
                    (B) a review of the Secretary of Energy's 
                methodology to collect information to determine and 
                implement the formula.

            Passed the House of Representatives February 28, 2024.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
118th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 6544

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

   To advance the benefits of nuclear energy by enabling efficient, 
   timely, and predictable licensing, regulation, and deployment of 
          nuclear energy technologies, and for other purposes.
```