I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 9028 

To establish the American Nuclear Leadership Commission, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 18, 2020 

Mr. BURGESS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 

Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be 

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish the American Nuclear Leadership Commission, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. AMERICAN NUCLEAR LEADERSHIP COMMIS4 SION. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com6 mission within the Department of Energy to be known as 

7 the ‘‘American Nuclear Leadership Commission’’ (in this 

8 Act referred to as ‘‘the Commission’’). 


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1 (b) DUTIES.— 

2 (1) STUDY.—The Commission shall conduct a 

3 study of the current status and the future of the ci4 vilian nuclear power industry of the United States, 

5 including examination of— 

6 (A) the process by which nuclear reactors 

7 are developed, constructed, and operated for ci8 vilian commercial purposes within the United 

9 States, including the process for— 

10 (i) nuclear reactors currently in oper11 ation; and 

12 (ii) advanced reactor designs; 

13 (B) potential market opportunities for ad14 vanced reactors domestically and internation15 ally; 

16 (C) the challenges posed to the United 

17 States domestic nuclear fuels lifecycle on the 

18 ‘‘front end’’ (mining, milling, and reprocessing) 

19 and on the ‘‘back end’’ (storage of spent nu20 clear fuel); 

21 (D) the current industrial capacity of the 

22 United States for the design and manufacture 

23 of nuclear reactors; 

24 (E) the export competitiveness of the 

25 United States for nuclear reactors designed and 


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1 built in the United States in comparison to the 

2 export competitiveness of other countries for 

3 nuclear reactors designed and built in such 

4 countries; 

5 (F) whether the use of advanced reactor 

6 designs can mitigate the economic challenges 

7 posed by high construction costs, low energy 

8 prices, and limited sources of capital; 

9 (G) the environmental impacts of civilian 

10 nuclear power, specifically on the air and water 

11 emissions of pollutants, including carbon diox12 ide, across the lifecycle of a civilian nuclear 

13 power plant; and 

14 (H) existing regulations and statutes that 

15 may limit the expanded use of new nuclear re16 actors for civilian power generation within the 

17 United States and exports abroad. 

18 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 

19 date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 

20 prepare and submit to Congress and the President 

21 a report on the study under paragraph (1) that in22 cludes a detailed statement of the finding and con23 clusions of the Commission, together with its rec24 ommendations, including any recommendations for 


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1 legislation or administrative acts, that the Commis2 sion considers appropriate. 

3 (3) PUBLIC MEETINGS AND COMMENT.—In con4 ducting the study under paragraph (1) and pre5 paring the report under paragraph (2), the Commis6 sion shall solicit public comment and hold public 

7 meetings with stakeholder groups. 

8 (c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

9 (1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.— 

10 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 

11 be composed of 10 members, as follows: 

12 (i) The Secretary of Energy (or the 

13 Secretary’s delegate). 

14 (ii) Nine members shall be appointed 

15 by the President of the United States, 

16 after consideration of recommendations 

17 from the Speaker of the House of Rep18 resentatives, the majority leader of the 

19 Senate, the minority leader of the House of 

20 Representatives, and the minority leader of 

21 the Senate. 

22 (B) APPOINTMENT.—Appointments of 

23 members to the Commission shall be made not 

24 later than 60 days after the date of the enact25 ment of this Act. 


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1 (2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Com2 mission shall include individuals who— 

3 (A) represent the interests of— 

4 (i) the civilian nuclear power sector of 

5 the United States; 

6 (ii) nuclear reactor design and manu7 facturing companies; 

8 (iii) the nuclear fuels industry; 

9 (iv) electric grid operators, such as 

10 electric utilities; 

11 (v) Federal and State policy makers; 

12 (vi) energy sector financing experts; 

13 and 

14 (vii) nuclear nonproliferation experts; 

15 and 

16 (B) have demonstrated experience and un17 derstanding of the civilian nuclear power sector, 

18 nuclear engineering or physics, civilian nuclear 

19 energy project financing, or State or Federal 

20 regulations that impact the development of new 

21 civilian nuclear power projects. 

22 (3) PARTISANSHIP.—Not more than 5 members 

23 of the Commission may be members of the same po24 litical party. 

25 (4) TERMS AND VACANCIES.— 


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1 (A) TERMS.—Each member shall be ap2 pointed for the life of the Commission. 

3 (B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Com4 mission shall be filled in the same manner as 

5 the original appointment, except the individual 

6 appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve only for 

7 the unexpired portion of the term for which the 

8 individual’s predecessor was appointed. 

9 (d) RULES AND PROCEDURES.— 

10 (1) SELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON.—The Sec11 retary of Energy (or the Secretary’s delegate) shall 

12 serve as Chairperson of the Commission. 

13 (2) QUORUM REQUIREMENTS.—To meet a 

14 quorum, at least 6 members of the Commission, in15 cluding the Chairperson, need to be present either in 

16 person or via video conferencing. 

17 (3) FORMULATING OTHER RULES OF PROCE18 DURE.—The Commission shall set its own rules of 

19 procedure for announcements, meetings, and report20 ing to Congress and the President. 

21 (e) MEETINGS.— 

22 (1) FIRST MEETING.—The Commission shall 

23 hold its first meeting not later than 30 days after 

24 all members have been appointed to the Commission. 


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1 (2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.—The Commission 

2 shall hold meetings on a quarterly basis throughout 

3 the life of the Commission. 

4 (f) COSTS AND FUNDING.—Funding for the Commis5 sion shall be derived from the Department of Energy’s an6 nual appropriated funds. 

Æ 


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