I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8129 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out an initiative to encourage 
States to enhance the dissemination of nuclear information at certain 
schools, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 26, 2024 
Mr. DONALDS (for himself, Mr. DESJARLAIS, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. WILLIAMS of 
New York, and Mr. NEHLS) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out an initiative 
to encourage States to enhance the dissemination of nu-
clear information at certain schools, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Nuclear 
Workforce Act’’. 
SEC. 2. NUCLEAR EDUCATION INITIATIVE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Energy 
shall establish and carry out an initiative to encourage 
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States to enhance the dissemination of nuclear science and 
technology information at covered schools. 
(b) DEGREES.—In carrying out the initiative estab-
lished under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall 
encourage States to work with institutions of higher edu-
cation that are covered schools, to, as appropriate, incor-
porate degrees that may be relevant in the nuclear energy 
industry, including degrees in environmental science, biol-
ogy, chemistry, nuclear engineering, electrical engineering, 
mechanical engineering, civil engineering, systems engi-
neering, radiochemistry, applied and engineering physics, 
materials science, and occupational safety and health. 
(c) TOURS AND OUTREACH.—In carrying out the ini-
tiative established under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Energy shall encourage— 
(1) covered schools to engage with local nuclear 
power plants to provide students with tours of such 
nuclear power plants to learn about nuclear energy 
firsthand; and 
(2) relevant nuclear stakeholders to engage with 
covered schools about potential professional opportu-
nities within the nuclear industry, including by pro-
viding information regarding paid and unpaid in-
ternships, scholarships, apprenticeships, fellowships, 
and other experiential opportunities. 
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(d) NUCLEAR ENERGY UNIVERSITY PROGRAM.—The 
Secretary of Energy shall, to the extent practicable, carry 
out the initiative established under subsection (a) in con-
junction with the Nuclear Energy University Program of 
the Department of Energy. 
(e) CONSIDERATION.—In establishing and carrying 
out the initiative under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Energy shall take into consideration the Institute of Nu-
clear Power Operations Uniform Curriculum Program 
Guide. 
(f) MENTORSHIP PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the initiative 
established under subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Energy shall establish and carry out a mentorship 
program to pair volunteers who are employed in the 
nuclear industry with students in covered schools, 
including for virtual teleconference mentorship op-
portunities. 
(2) 
PROCEDURES.—In 
carrying 
out 
the 
mentorship program established under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary of Energy shall establish proce-
dures to appropriately pair students with volunteers, 
based on career interest, geographic location, or any 
other consideration the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
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(3) CONSIDERATION.—In carrying out the 
mentorship program established under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary of Energy shall consider any on-
going efforts to establish, or already established, 
mentorship programs or opportunities that may be 
relevant and could be utilized. 
(g) RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS.—In carrying 
out the initiative established under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of Energy shall encourage States to work with insti-
tutions of higher education that have a research and test 
reactor on campus to continue to use the research and 
test reactor— 
(1) to assist in preparing students for careers 
in the nuclear workforce, including careers at nu-
clear power plants and in the nuclear energy supply 
chain; and 
(2) to help inform the general student body 
about nuclear energy. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) COVERED
SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘covered 
school’’ means— 
(A) an institution of higher education or a 
secondary school that is located within approxi-
mately 25 miles (or such distance as the Sec-
retary of Energy determines appropriate) of— 
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(i) a commercially operating nuclear 
power plant; or 
(ii) the headquarters for a nuclear re-
actor developer; or 
(B) any other institution of higher edu-
cation or secondary school that the Secretary of 
Energy determines appropriate. 
(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101 or 
102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002(a)(1)(B)). 
(3) RESEARCH AND TEST REACTOR.—The term 
‘‘research and test reactor’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 3(11) of the Nuclear Energy 
Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215 
note). 
(4) SECONDARY
SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘sec-
ondary school’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
Æ 
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