IB 
Union Calendar No. 419 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4378 
[Report No. 115–557] 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out the construction of a versatile 
reactor-based fast neutron source, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 13, 2017 
Mr. WEBER of Texas (for himself, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, 
Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. KNIGHT, and Mr. HULTGREN) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology 
FEBRUARY 13, 2018 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed 
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A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out the construc-
tion of a versatile reactor-based fast neutron source, 
and for other purposes. 
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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 ‘‘Nuclear Energy Re-
search Infrastructure Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. VERSATILE NEUTRON SOURCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall 
provide for a versatile reactor-based fast neutron source, 
which shall operate as a national user facility. The Sec-
retary shall consult with the private sector, universities, 
National Laboratories, and relevant Federal agencies to 
ensure that the versatile neutron source is capable of 
meeting Federal research needs for neutron irradiation 
services. 
(b) FACILITY CAPABILITIES.— 
(1) CAPABILITIES.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the facility described in subsection (a) will pro-
vide, at a minimum, the following capabilities: 
(A) Fast neutron spectrum irradiation ca-
pability. 
(B) Capacity for upgrades to accommodate 
new or expanded research needs. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall consider the following: 
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(A) Capabilities that support experimental 
high-temperature testing. 
(B) Providing a source of fast neutrons at 
a neutron flux higher than that at which exist-
ing research facilities operate, sufficient to en-
able research for an optimal base of prospective 
users. 
(C) Maximizing irradiation flexibility and 
irradiation volume to accommodate as many 
concurrent users as possible. 
(D) Capabilities for irradiation with neu-
trons of a lower energy spectrum. 
(E) Multiple loops for fuels and materials 
testing of different coolants. 
(F) Capabilities that support irradiating 
and processing targets for isotope production. 
(G) Additional pre-irradiation and post-ir-
radiation examination capabilities. 
(H) Lifetime operating costs and lifecycle 
costs. 
(c) START OF OPERATIONS.—The Secretary shall, to 
the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the start of 
full operations of the facility under this section occurs be-
fore December 31, 2025. 
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(d) FUNDING.—Out of funds appropriated to the Of-
fice of Nuclear Energy, there shall be made available to 
the Secretary to carry out activities, including design and 
construction of the facility, under this section— 
(1) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
(2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
(3) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
(4) $260,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
(5) $340,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
(6) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
(7) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and 
(8) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. 
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Union Calendar No. 419 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4378 
[Report No. 115–557] 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out the 
construction of a versatile reactor-based fast neu-
tron source, and for other purposes. 
FEBRUARY 13, 2018 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:18 Feb 14, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
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