IIB 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6544 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
FEBRUARY 29, 2024 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works 
AN ACT 
To advance the benefits of nuclear energy by enabling effi-
cient, timely, and predictable licensing, regulation, and 
deployment of nuclear energy technologies, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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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, 
Perform-
ance, 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 Regu-
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latory Commission shall, while remaining consistent 
with the policies of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 
(including to provide reasonable assurance of ade-
quate protection of the public health and safety, to 
promote the common defense and security, and to 
protect the environment), update the mission state-
ment of the Commission to include that licensing 
and regulation of nuclear energy activities be con-
ducted in a manner that is efficient and does not 
unnecessarily limit— 
(A) the potential of nuclear energy to im-
prove the general welfare; and 
(B) the benefits of nuclear energy tech-
nology to society. 
(2) REPORT.—Upon completion of the update 
to the mission statement required under paragraph 
(1), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall sub-
mit to Congress a report that describes— 
(A) the updated mission statement; and 
(B) the guidance that the Nuclear Regu-
latory Commission will provide to staff of the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission to ensure ef-
fective performance of such mission. 
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‘‘(c) LICENSING PROCESS.—In carrying out the prin-
cipal licensing and regulation functions under subsection 
(b)(1), the Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation shall— 
‘‘(1) establish techniques and guidance for eval-
uating 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 es-
tablished under paragraph (1) by periodically assess-
ing and, if necessary, modifying such techniques and 
guidance; and 
‘‘(3) obtain approval from the Commission if es-
tablishment or modification of the techniques and 
guidance established under paragraph (1) or (2) in-
volves policy formulation.’’. 
SEC. 102. NUCLEAR LICENSING EFFICIENCY. 
(a) EFFICIENT LICENSING REVIEWS.— 
(1) GENERAL.—Section 181 of the Atomic En-
ergy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2231) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The provisions of’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(a) The provisions of’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(b) Consistent with the declaration in section 1, the 
Commission shall provide for efficient, timely, and predict-
able reviews and proceedings for the granting, suspending, 
revoking, or amending of any license or construction per-
mit, or application to transfer control, and in any pro-
ceeding for the issuance or modification of rules and regu-
lations 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 re-
viewing an application for an early site permit, construc-
tion permit, operating license, or combined construction 
permit and operating license for a production facility or 
utilization facility located at the site of a production facil-
ity or utilization facility licensed by the Commission, the 
Commission shall, to the extent practicable, use informa-
tion 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)— 
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(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 Com-
mission shall review and assess, based on the li-
censing and regulatory activities of the Com-
mission, the performance metrics and milestone 
schedules developed under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) REVISIONS.—After each review and 
assessment under subparagraph (A), the Com-
mission shall revise, as appropriate, the per-
formance metrics and milestone schedules devel-
oped under paragraph (1) to provide the most 
efficient performance metrics and milestone 
schedules reasonably achievable.’’. 
(c) CLARIFICATION ON FUSION REGULATION.—Sec-
tion 103(a)(4) of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and 
Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2133 note; Public Law 
115–439) is amended— 
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(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 amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking the third sentence and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION
ON
UTILIZATION
FACILI-
TIES.—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 an-
nual costs to the licensee of owning and oper-
ating the facility are devoted to the sale, other 
than for research and development or education 
and training, of— 
‘‘(i) nonenergy services; 
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‘‘(ii) energy; or 
‘‘(iii) a combination of nonenergy 
services and energy; and 
‘‘(B) not more than 50 percent of the an-
nual costs to the licensee of owning and oper-
ating the facility are devoted to the sale of en-
ergy.’’; 
(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 in-
serting 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 
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‘‘(2) directly capturing and using the resultant 
products, including particles, heat, and other electro-
magnetic 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 amend-
ed— 
(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 tech-
nology-inclusive, regulatory framework for op-
tional use by fusion machine applicants for new 
license applications.’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (5)(B)(ii), by insert-
ing ‘‘and fusion machine license applica-
tions’’ after ‘‘commercial advanced nuclear 
reactor license applications’’. 
(B) DEFINITIONS.—Section 3 of the Nu-
clear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act 
(42 U.S.C. 2215 note) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
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‘‘(21) FUSION
MACHINE.—The term ‘fusion 
machine’ has the meaning given such term in sub-
section 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 Regu-
latory 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 per-
formance-based, design-specific licensing frame-
works 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, man-
ufacturing, and operations certification process 
for aircraft as a potential model for mass-man-
ufactured fusion machine regulations; and 
(B) the estimated timeline for the Commis-
sion to issue consolidated guidance or regula-
tions for licensing mass-manufactured fusion 
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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 En-
ergy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is amend-
ed 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 Reorganiza-
tion 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 Commis-
sion (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 Regu-
latory Commission’s (in this section referred to as 
the ‘Commission’) responsibilities and activities in a 
timely, efficient, and effective manner, the Chairman 
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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 max-
imum 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 ex-
ceed 80 at any one time. 
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‘‘(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
POSI-
TION.—The Chairman may not, under para-
graph (1)(A) or paragraph (1)(B), appoint 
highly qualified individuals to any Senior Exec-
utive 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 re-
sponsibilities 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— 
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‘‘(A) the date that is 10 years after the 
certification is renewed or issued; or 
‘‘(B) the date on which the Chairman de-
termines there is no longer a severe shortage of 
candidates or a critical hiring need for covered 
positions to carry out the Commission’s respon-
sibilities and activities in a timely, efficient, and 
effective manner. 
‘‘(5) LEVEL
OF
POSITIONS.—To the extent 
practicable, in carrying out paragraph (1) the Chair-
man shall recruit and directly appoint highly quali-
fied 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 COMMIS-
SION.— 
‘‘(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 cov-
ered position is insufficient to retain or attract such 
employees and other personnel to allow the Commis-
sion to carry out the responsibilities and activities of 
the Commission in a timely, efficient, and effective 
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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 cer-
tification 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 per-
sonnel 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 
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‘‘(C) be no broader than necessary to 
achieve the objective of retaining or attracting 
employees and other personnel serving in a cov-
ered position to allow the Commission to carry 
out the Commission’s responsibilities and activi-
ties 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 com-
pensation 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 re-
sponsibilities 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 certifi-
cation issued or renewed under paragraph (1) is in 
effect shall apply with respect to an employee or 
other personnel serving in a covered position regard-
less of when the employee or other personnel was 
hired. 
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‘‘(5) RETENTION
OF
LEVEL
OF
FIXED
COM-
PENSATION.—The termination of a certification 
issued or renewed under paragraph (1) shall not af-
fect the compensation of an employee or other per-
sonnel serving in a covered position whose com-
pensation was fixed by the Chairman in accordance 
with paragraph (1). 
‘‘(6) LIMITATION
ON
COMPENSATION.—The 
Chairman may not use the authority under para-
graph (1) to fix the compensation of employees or 
other personnel at an annual rate of basic pay high-
er 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 subpara-
graph (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 
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‘‘(iii) pay to the experts and consult-
ants serving away from the homes or reg-
ular 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 prac-
ticable, limit the use of experts and con-
sultants pursuant to subparagraph (A); 
and 
‘‘(ii) ensure that the employment con-
tract of each expert and consultant em-
ployed 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.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), an employee or other personnel who 
the Chairman determines exhibited exceptional 
performance in a fiscal year may be paid a per-
formance 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 sec-
tion 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 there-
after. 
‘‘(ii) HIRING BONUSES.—Any person 
who receives a 1-time hiring bonus under 
paragraph (1) may not receive a perform-
ance 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.— 
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‘‘(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 Rep-
resentatives, the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate, and the Office of Per-
sonnel Management a report on the details of the 
plan. 
‘‘(2) REPORT CONTENT.—The report submitted 
under paragraph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) evidence and supporting documenta-
tion justifying the plan; and 
‘‘(B) budgeting projections on costs and 
benefits resulting from the plan. 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—The Chairman may con-
sult with the Office of Personnel Management, the 
Office of Management and Budget, and the Comp-
troller 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. 
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‘‘(f) INFORMATION
ON HIRING, VACANCIES, AND 
COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall in-
clude 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 Commis-
sion. 
‘‘(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 pre-
vious year, how the authority provided by 
that subsection is being used to address 
the hiring needs of the Commission; 
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‘‘(ii) the total number of highly quali-
fied individuals serving in— 
‘‘(I) covered positions pursuant 
to subsection (a)(1)(A); and 
‘‘(II) term-limited covered posi-
tions 
pursuant 
to 
subsection 
(a)(1)(B); 
‘‘(iii) if a certification under sub-
section (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 Com-
mission; 
‘‘(iv) the total number of employees or 
other personnel serving in a covered posi-
tion that have their compensation fixed 
pursuant to subsection (b); 
‘‘(v) if a certification under subsection 
(a) or (b) was terminated or was not in ef-
fect 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 
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number of individuals leaving a term-lim-
ited covered position before completion of 
the applicable term of service and the aver-
age length of service for such individuals 
as a percentage of the applicable term of 
service; and 
‘‘(vii) the number of experts and con-
sultants 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 an-
ticipates 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 respon-
sibilities 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 na-
ture.’’. 
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(2) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con-
tents 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 RE-
PORT.—Not later than September 30, 2032, the Comp-
troller 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 sec-
tion 161B of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (as 
added by this Act) have been utilized; 
(2) describes the role in which the highly quali-
fied individuals recruited and directly appointed pur-
suant 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 sec-
tion 161B of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (as 
added by this Act) in helping the Nuclear Regu-
latory Commission fulfill its mission; 
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(4) makes recommendations to improve the Nu-
clear Regulatory Commission’s strategic workforce 
management; and 
(5) makes recommendations with respect to 
whether Congress should enhance, modify, or dis-
continue the authorities provided under subsections 
(a), (b), and (c) of section 161B of the Atomic En-
ergy Act of 1954 (as added by this Act). 
(c) ANNUAL SOLICITATION
FOR NUCLEAR REGU-
LATOR APPRENTICESHIP NETWORK APPLICATIONS.—The 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, on an annual basis, shall 
solicit applications for the Nuclear Regulator Apprentice-
ship 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), respec-
tively; 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘(2) ADVANCED
NUCLEAR
REACTOR
APPLI-
CANT.—The term ‘advanced nuclear reactor appli-
cant’ means an entity that has submitted to the 
Commission an application for a license for an ad-
vanced nuclear reactor under the Atomic Energy Act 
of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).’’; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(4) 
ADVANCED
NUCLEAR
REACTOR 
PREAPPLICANT.—The term ‘advanced nuclear reac-
tor preapplicant’ means an entity that has submitted 
to the Commission a licensing project plan for the 
purposes of submitting a future application for a li-
cense 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 re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(12) MISSION-DIRECT
PROGRAM
SALARIES 
AND BENEFITS.—The term ‘mission-direct program 
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(c) FEES FOR SERVICE OR THING OF VALUE.—Sec-
tion 102(b) of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Mod-
ernization 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
AP-
PLICANTS.—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 
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‘‘(ii) include the costs of mission-indi-
rect 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 sub-
mitted 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-indi-
rect 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 
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document)) for mission-direct program sal-
aries 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 accord-
ance 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 LI-
CENSING.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION
OF
ELIGIBLE
ENTITY.—In 
this subsection, the term ‘eligible entity’ means— 
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‘‘(A) a non-Federal entity; and 
‘‘(B) the Tennessee Valley Authority. 
‘‘(2) PRIZE FOR ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTOR 
LICENSING.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 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 de-
scribed 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 nu-
clear 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 
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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 Com-
mission 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 col-
lected 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 re-
lating to the issuance of an associated construc-
tion 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 regula-
tions)). 
‘‘(C) AWARD
CATEGORIES.—An award 
under subparagraph (A) may be made for— 
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‘‘(i) the first advanced nuclear reactor 
for which the Commission— 
‘‘(I) issues a license in accord-
ance with clause (i) of subparagraph 
(A); or 
‘‘(II) makes a finding in accord-
ance with clause (ii) of that subpara-
graph; 
‘‘(ii) an advanced nuclear reactor 
that— 
‘‘(I) uses isotopes derived from 
spent nuclear fuel (as defined in sec-
tion 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy 
Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101)) or 
depleted uranium as fuel for the ad-
vanced nuclear reactor; and 
‘‘(II) is the first advanced nu-
clear reactor described in subclause 
(I) for which the Commission— 
‘‘(aa) issues a license in ac-
cordance with clause (i) of sub-
paragraph (A); or 
‘‘(bb) makes a finding in ac-
cordance with clause (ii) of that 
subparagraph; 
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‘‘(iii) an advanced nuclear reactor 
that— 
‘‘(I) is a nuclear integrated en-
ergy system— 
‘‘(aa) that is composed of 2 
or more co-located or jointly op-
erated subsystems of energy gen-
eration, energy storage, or other 
technologies; 
‘‘(bb) in which not fewer 
than 1 subsystem described in 
item (aa) is a nuclear energy sys-
tem; and 
‘‘(cc) the purpose of which 
is— 
‘‘(AA) to reduce green-
house gas emissions in both 
the power and nonpower sec-
tors; and 
‘‘(BB) to maximize en-
ergy production and effi-
ciency; and 
‘‘(II) is the first advanced nu-
clear reactor described in subclause 
(I) for which the Commission— 
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‘‘(aa) issues a license in ac-
cordance with clause (i) of sub-
paragraph (A); or 
‘‘(bb) makes a finding in ac-
cordance 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 nu-
clear reactor described in subclause 
(I) for which the Commission— 
‘‘(aa) issues a license in ac-
cordance with clause (i) of sub-
paragraph (A); or 
‘‘(bb) makes a finding in ac-
cordance 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 tech-
nology-inclusive regulatory framework es-
tablished under subsection (a)(4). 
‘‘(3) FEDERAL FUNDING LIMITATION.— 
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‘‘(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
EX-
PENDED.—An award under this subsection 
shall not exceed the total amount expended (ex-
cluding any expenditures made with Federal 
funds received for the applicable project and an 
amount equal to the minimum cost-share re-
quired 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 re-
lating 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 
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‘‘(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 ENVI-
RONMENTAL 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 ‘‘Commis-
sion’’) 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 ge-
neric environmental impact statements. 
(b) REPORT.—In completing the report under sub-
section (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 Responsi-
bility Act of 2023; 
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(2) consider— 
(A) using through adoption, incorporation 
by reference, or other appropriate means, cat-
egorical exclusions, environmental assessments, 
and environmental impact statements prepared 
by other Federal agencies to streamline environ-
mental reviews of nuclear reactor applications 
by the Commission; 
(B) using categorical exclusions, environ-
mental assessments, and environmental impact 
statements prepared by the Commission to 
streamline environmental reviews of nuclear re-
actor applications by the Commission; 
(C) using mitigated findings of no signifi-
cant impact in environmental reviews of nuclear 
reactor applications by the Commission to re-
duce 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 per-
mitting agencies to streamline environmental 
reviews of nuclear reactor applications by the 
Commission; 
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(E) opportunities to coordinate the devel-
opment of environmental assessments and envi-
ronmental impact statements with other Fed-
eral agencies to avoid duplicative environmental 
reviews and to streamline environmental reviews 
of nuclear reactor applications by the Commis-
sion; 
(F) opportunities to streamline formal and 
informal consultations and coordination with 
other Federal, State, and local governmental 
permitting agencies during environmental re-
views of nuclear reactor applications by the 
Commission; 
(G) opportunities to streamline the Com-
mission’s analyses of alternatives, including the 
Commission’s analysis of alternative sites, in 
environmental reviews of nuclear reactor appli-
cations 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 Com-
mission to determine on a case-specific basis 
whether an environmental assessment (rather 
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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 environ-
mental impact statement for advanced nuclear 
reactors; 
(J) authorizing the use of an applicant’s 
environmental impact statement as the Com-
mission’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 dig-
ital 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 be-
tween— 
(i) the Commission and applicants; 
and 
(ii) the Commission and other rel-
evant cooperating agencies; 
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(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 pre-
dictable environmental reviews of nuclear 
reactor applications; 
(ii) assist decision-making about rel-
evant environmental issues; 
(iii) maintain openness with the pub-
lic; 
(iv) meet obligations under the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and 
(v) reduce burdens on licensees, appli-
cants, 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 Com-
mission 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 ap-
plications. 
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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 ‘‘pro-
duction 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 re-
tired or scheduled to retire, including multiunit fa-
cilities that are partially shut down. 
(6) UTILIZATION FACILITY.—The term ‘‘utiliza-
tion facility’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
U.S.C. 2014). 
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(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 fa-
cilities or utilization facilities at covered sites. 
(2) REQUIREMENT.—In carrying out paragraph 
(1), the Commission shall consider how licensing re-
views for production facilities or utilization facilities 
at covered sites may be expedited by— 
(A) siting and operating a production facil-
ity 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; 
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(C) using plant parameter envelopes or 
similar standardized site parameters on a por-
tion 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 Con-
gress 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 licens-
ing reviews for, and to support the oversight of, 
production facilities or utilization facilities at 
covered sites; and 
(B) initiate a rulemaking to enable effi-
cient, 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 para-
graph (1), consistent with the mission of the Com-
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mission, the Commission shall consider matters re-
lating to— 
(A) the use of existing site infrastructure; 
(B) existing emergency preparedness orga-
nizations and planning; 
(C) the availability of historical site-spe-
cific environmental data; 
(D) previously completed environmental re-
views 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 decontamina-
tion 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 OVER-
SIGHT. 
(a) IMPLEMENTING LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE 
COVID–19 HEALTH EMERGENCY.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commis-
sion shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on actions taken by the Commis-
sion 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 tem-
porary suspension of a process, procedure, or 
other regulatory policy identified under sub-
paragraph (A) affected the ability of the Com-
mission 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; 
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(C) discuss lessons learned from the mat-
ters described in subparagraph (B); 
(D) list actions that the Commission has 
taken or will take to incorporate into the licens-
ing and oversight activities of the Commission, 
without compromising the mission of the Com-
mission, 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 OVER-
SIGHT 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 commit-
tees of Congress a report that identifies specific im-
provements to the nuclear reactor and materials 
oversight and inspection programs carried out pur-
suant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 that the 
Commission may implement to maximize the effi-
ciency of such programs through, where appropriate, 
the use of risk-informed, performance-based proce-
dures, expanded incorporation of information tech-
nologies, and staff training. 
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(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 con-
tinually updated risk-informed, performance- 
based assessment, including— 
(i) use of travel resources; 
(ii) planning and preparation for in-
spections, including entrance and exit 
meetings with licensees; 
(iii) document collection and prepara-
tion, 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; 
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(iv) the cross-cutting issues program; 
and 
(v) the scope of event reporting re-
quired by licensees to ensure decisions are 
risk-informed; 
(B) identify and assess measures to im-
prove oversight and inspections, including— 
(i) elimination of areas of duplicative 
or otherwise unnecessary activities; 
(ii) increased use of templates in doc-
umenting inspection results; and 
(iii) periodic training of Commission 
staff and leadership on the application of 
risk-informed criteria for— 
(I) inspection planning and as-
sessments; 
(II) agency decision making proc-
esses on the application of regulations 
and guidance; and 
(III) the application of the Com-
mission’s standard of reasonable as-
surance of adequate protection; 
(C) assess measures to advance risk-in-
formed procedures, including— 
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(i) increased use of inspection ap-
proaches that balance the level of resources 
commensurate with safety significance; 
(ii) increased review of the use of in-
spection program resources based on li-
censee performance; 
(iii) expansion of modern information 
technology, including artificial intelligence 
and machine learning to risk inform over-
sight and inspection decisions; and 
(iv) updating the Differing Profes-
sional Views or Opinions process to ensure 
any impacts on agency decisions and 
schedules are commensurate with the safe-
ty significance of the differing opinion; 
(D) assess the ability of the Commission, 
consistent with its obligations to provide reason-
able 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 Com-
mission for timely acceptance of licensee adop-
tion of advanced technologies, including digital 
technologies; 
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(E) identify recommendations resulting 
from the assessments described in subpara-
graphs (A) through (D); 
(F) identify specific actions that the Com-
mission will take to incorporate into the train-
ing, inspection, oversight, and licensing activi-
ties, and regulations of the Commission, with-
out compromising the mission of the Commis-
sion, the recommendations identified under sub-
paragraph (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 Gen-
eral 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 para-
graph (1) shall include— 
(A) an examination of— 
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(i) the costs associated with the head-
quarters, regional offices, and technical 
training center of the Commission, includ-
ing examination of— 
(I) costs that do not support the 
Commission’s mission, including rent 
subsidies for other Federal agencies; 
and 
(II) opportunities to reduce fu-
ture costs through reduction in unnec-
essary 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 accom-
plish the mission of the Commission; and 
(B) recommendations to Congress, the 
Commission, and the General Services Adminis-
tration for actions that may assist in reducing 
office and facility costs to licensees and tax-
payers. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
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gress’’ means the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee 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 NU-
CLEAR
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 ap-
prove or disapprove an application for 
an early site permit (as defined in sec-
tion 52.1 of title 10, Code of Federal 
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Regulations (or any successor regula-
tion)) to demonstrate an advanced nu-
clear reactor on a Department of En-
ergy site or any site or installation 
that is critical national security infra-
structure (as defined in section 327(d) 
of the John S. McCain National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2019); and 
‘‘(II) pre-application activities re-
lating 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 infra-
structure (as defined in section 327(d) 
of the John S. McCain National De-
fense 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-REAC-
TORS.— 
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(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-in-
formed 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 strate-
gies 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 assess-
ments; 
(vi) decommissioning funding assur-
ance 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 cri-
terion limit described in the policy 
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issue 
paper 
on 
population-related 
siting considerations for advanced re-
actors dated May 8, 2020, and num-
bered 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 appro-
priate, 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 rule-
making. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing and im-
plementing strategies and guidance under paragraph 
(1), the Commission shall consider— 
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(A) the unique characteristics of micro-re-
actors, 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 para-
graph (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 
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(D) other stakeholders. 
(c) 
EXPEDITED
SUBSEQUENT
COMBINED
LI-
CENSES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with this sub-
section, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (re-
ferred 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 expe-
dited procedure under paragraph (1), an applicant— 
(A) shall submit a combined license appli-
cation for a new nuclear reactor based off a 
previously licensed design; 
(B) shall propose to construct the new nu-
clear 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 satis-
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fied the requirements described in paragraph (2), 
the Commission shall, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable— 
(A) not later than 1 year after the applica-
tion is accepted for docketing, issue a draft en-
vironmental impact statement; 
(B) not later than 18 months after the ap-
plication is accepted for docketing— 
(i) complete the technical review proc-
ess; and 
(ii) issue a safety evaluation report 
and final environmental impact statement; 
(C) not later than 2 years after the appli-
cation is accepted for docketing, complete any 
necessary public licensing hearings and related 
processes; and 
(D) not later than 25 months after the ap-
plication is accepted for docketing, make a final 
decision on whether to issue the combined li-
cense. 
(4) PERFORMANCE AND REPORTING.— 
(A) DELAYS IN ISSUANCE.—Not later than 
30 days after the applicable deadline, the Exec-
utive Director for Operations of the Commis-
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sion 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 Sen-
ate and the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives a report 
describing the delay, including a detailed expla-
nation accounting for the delay and a plan for 
completion of the applicable action. 
(d) PILOT PROGRAM FOR NUCLEAR POWER PUR-
CHASE 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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘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 re-
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spect to which an initial operating license is issued by the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission after January 1, 2024. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—In establishing a pilot pro-
gram 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 De-
fense. 
‘‘(c) PERIOD OF AGREEMENT.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, an agreement entered into pursuant 
to this section to purchase power from a commercial nu-
clear 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 de-
termines 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. 
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‘‘(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 agree-
ment is for power generated by a commercial nuclear reac-
tor described in subsection (d). 
‘‘(f) ADVANCED FUNDING.—The Secretary— 
‘‘(1) may not enter into any power purchase 
agreement under this section unless funds are spe-
cifically provided for such purposes in advance in ap-
propriations Acts enacted after the date of enact-
ment 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 ob-
ligation up front and in full at the time such agree-
ment is made.’’. 
(2) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con-
tents 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 Sec-
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retary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary 
of State, the Secretary of Commerce, the Adminis-
trator 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 nu-
clear energy industry. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The study conducted under 
paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) information on the status of the civil-
ian nuclear energy industry, the long-term risks 
to such industry, and the basis for such risks; 
(B) information on how the use of the ci-
vilian nuclear energy industry, relative to other 
types of energy industries, can reduce the emis-
sion 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; 
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(E) information on how the United States 
may collaborate with such countries in devel-
oping, deploying, and investing in nuclear tech-
nology; 
(F) information on how foreign countries 
use nuclear energy when crafting and imple-
menting their own foreign policy, including such 
use by foreign countries that are strategic com-
petitors; 
(G) an evaluation of how nuclear non-
proliferation 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 in-
dustry 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 ci-
vilian nuclear energy supply chain, including, 
with respect to such utilities and companies— 
(i) financial challenges; 
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(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 in-
crease the role nuclear energy plays in di-
plomacy and strategic energy policy; 
(ii) develop a strategy to mitigate for-
eign competitor’s utilization of their civil-
ian 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 para-
graph (1), the Secretary of Energy shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress a report, in-
cluding a classified annex as necessary, on the re-
sults 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 
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(3) FOREIGN NUCLEAR ENERGY EXPERT.—In 
this subsection, the term ‘‘foreign nuclear energy ex-
pert’’ does not include a person who is from a coun-
try— 
(A) in which intellectual property theft is 
legal; 
(B) that takes actions to undermine the ci-
vilian nuclear energy industry or other critical 
industries of the United States; or 
(C) which the Secretary of Energy deter-
mines 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 coopera-
tion and assistance relating to nuclear re-
actors; and 
(B) support— 
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(i) the consideration of international 
technical standards to assist the design, li-
censing, and construction of advanced nu-
clear systems; 
(ii) efforts to help build competent nu-
clear 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 ci-
vilian nuclear energy industry regulation 
and oversight to improve nuclear tech-
nology 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 INNOVA-
TION
BRANCH.—The Commission may establish 
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within the Office of International Programs of the 
Commission a branch, to be known as the ‘‘Inter-
national 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 Nu-
clear 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 EX-
PORT AND INNOVATION ACTIVITIES.—The Commis-
sion shall identify in the annual budget justification 
international nuclear reactor export and innovation 
activities described in section 202(c)(1) of the Atom-
ic Energy Advancement Act.’’; and 
(ii) in subsection (b)(1)(B), as amend-
ed by the preceding provisions of this Act, 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(vii) Costs for international nuclear 
reactor export and innovation activities de-
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scribed 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 Govern-
ment of the Russian Federation or the Govern-
ment of the People’s Republic of China; or 
(B) is organized under the laws of, or oth-
erwise subject to the jurisdiction of, the Rus-
sian Federation or the People’s Republic of 
China. 
(2) PROHIBITION ON UNLICENSED POSSESSION 
OR OWNERSHIP OF COVERED FUEL.—Unless specifi-
cally 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. 
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(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 li-
cense. 
(B) PROHIBITION
ON
ISSUANCE
OF
LI-
CENSE.— 
(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 deter-
mination referred to in clause (i) is a 
determination that possession or own-
ership, as applicable, of covered fuel 
poses a threat to the national security 
of the United States that adversely 
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impacts the physical and economic se-
curity of the United States. 
(II) JOINT DETERMINATION.—A 
determination described in subclause 
(I) shall be jointly made by the Sec-
retary of Energy and the Secretary of 
State. 
(III) TIMELINE.— 
(aa) NOTICE
OF
APPLICA-
TION.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date on which the Com-
mission receives an application 
for a license to possess or own 
covered fuel, the Commission 
shall notify the Secretary of En-
ergy and the Secretary of State 
of the application. 
(bb) DETERMINATION.—The 
Secretary of Energy and the Sec-
retary of State shall have a pe-
riod of 180 days, beginning on 
the date on which the Commis-
sion notifies the Secretary of En-
ergy and the Secretary of State 
under item (aa) of an application 
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make that determination publicly 
available. 
(iii) EFFECT
OF
NO
DETERMINA-
TION.—The prohibition described in clause 
(i) shall not apply if the Secretary of En-
ergy 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
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means each of the following: 
(A) The Committee on Energy and Com-
merce 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 Nat-
ural Resources of the Senate. 
(E) The Committee on Foreign Relations 
of the Senate. 
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 
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SEC. 203. AMERICAN NUCLEAR COMPETITIVENESS. 
(a) PROCESS
FOR REVIEW
AND AMENDMENT
OF 
PART 810 GENERALLY AUTHORIZED DESTINATIONS.— 
(1) IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF FAC-
TORS.—Not later than 90 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, with 
the concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall iden-
tify 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 destina-
tion in Appendix A to part 810 of title 10, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
(2) PROCESS UPDATE.—The Secretary of En-
ergy 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 Regula-
tions, and for listing such country as a generally au-
thorized destination in Appendix A to part 810 of 
title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, taking into 
consideration, and, as appropriate, incorporating 
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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 up-
dated 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 de-
scribed 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.— 
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(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 coun-
try described in subparagraph (B), 
that is a member of the Organization 
for Economic Co-operation and Devel-
opment 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 na-
tional 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 instru-
mentality of the government of which, on 
the date of enactment of this Act, is sub-
ject to sanctions under section 231 of the 
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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 sec-
tion 231 of the Countering America’s Ad-
versaries 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 sub-
section 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 APPLICA-
TIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Nuclear Regu-
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latory Commission (in this subsection referred to as 
the ‘‘Commission’’) shall submit to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep-
resentatives 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 nu-
clear 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 re-
actors 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. 
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(3) CONTENTS.—The report under paragraph 
(1) shall describe— 
(A) any unique licensing issues or require-
ments relating to the matters described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1), 
including, with respect to the nonelectric appli-
cations referred to in subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) of that paragraph, any licensing issues or 
requirements relating to the use of nuclear en-
ergy— 
(i) for hydrogen or other liquid and 
gaseous fuel or chemical production; 
(ii) for water desalination and waste-
water treatment; 
(iii) for heat used in industrial proc-
esses; 
(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— 
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(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-in-
formed and performance-based regulatory guid-
ance for licensing advanced nuclear reactors for 
nonelectric applications. 
(d) REPORT ON ADVANCED METHODS OF MANUFAC-
TURING
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 Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
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Representatives and the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works of the Senate a report on ad-
vanced 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 para-
graph (1) shall— 
(i) examine any unique licensing 
issues or requirements relating to the use, 
for nuclear energy projects, of— 
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(I) advanced manufacturing tech-
niques; and 
(II) advanced construction tech-
niques; 
(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 stand-
ard materials that are in compliance 
with existing codes and standards to 
provide acceptable approaches to sup-
port or encapsulate new materials 
that do not yet have applicable codes 
or standards; 
(iii) identify safety aspects of ad-
vanced manufacturing processes and ad-
vanced construction techniques that are 
not addressed by existing codes and stand-
ards, so that generic guidance for nuclear 
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energy projects may be updated or created 
as necessary by the Commission; 
(iv) identify options for addressing the 
issues, requirements, and opportunities ex-
amined under clauses (i) and (ii)— 
(I) within the existing regulatory 
framework; or 
(II) through a new rulemaking; 
and 
(v) describe the extent to which Com-
mission 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 con-
struction 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’’. 
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(2) LIABILITY.—Section 170 of the Atomic En-
ergy 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 ‘‘De-
cember 31, 2061’’. 
(4) DEFINITION OF NUCLEAR INCIDENT.—Sec-
tion 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 Gen-
eral shall carry out a review of, and submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Environ-
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ment 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 para-
graph (1) shall include— 
(A) an evaluation of the Secretary of Ener-
gy’s actions to determine the risk-informed as-
sessment 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: 
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER, 
Clerk. 
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