I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9028 
To establish the American Nuclear Leadership Commission, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 18, 2020 
Mr. BURGESS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 
Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To establish the American Nuclear Leadership Commission, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. AMERICAN NUCLEAR LEADERSHIP COMMIS-
SION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission within the Department of Energy to be known as 
the ‘‘American Nuclear Leadership Commission’’ (in this 
Act referred to as ‘‘the Commission’’). 
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(b) DUTIES.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Commission shall conduct a 
study of the current status and the future of the ci-
vilian nuclear power industry of the United States, 
including examination of— 
(A) the process by which nuclear reactors 
are developed, constructed, and operated for ci-
vilian commercial purposes within the United 
States, including the process for— 
(i) nuclear reactors currently in oper-
ation; and 
(ii) advanced reactor designs; 
(B) potential market opportunities for ad-
vanced reactors domestically and internation-
ally; 
(C) the challenges posed to the United 
States domestic nuclear fuels lifecycle on the 
‘‘front end’’ (mining, milling, and reprocessing) 
and on the ‘‘back end’’ (storage of spent nu-
clear fuel); 
(D) the current industrial capacity of the 
United States for the design and manufacture 
of nuclear reactors; 
(E) the export competitiveness of the 
United States for nuclear reactors designed and 
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built in the United States in comparison to the 
export competitiveness of other countries for 
nuclear reactors designed and built in such 
countries; 
(F) whether the use of advanced reactor 
designs can mitigate the economic challenges 
posed by high construction costs, low energy 
prices, and limited sources of capital; 
(G) the environmental impacts of civilian 
nuclear power, specifically on the air and water 
emissions of pollutants, including carbon diox-
ide, across the lifecycle of a civilian nuclear 
power plant; and 
(H) existing regulations and statutes that 
may limit the expanded use of new nuclear re-
actors for civilian power generation within the 
United States and exports abroad. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 
prepare and submit to Congress and the President 
a report on the study under paragraph (1) that in-
cludes a detailed statement of the finding and con-
clusions of the Commission, together with its rec-
ommendations, including any recommendations for 
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legislation or administrative acts, that the Commis-
sion considers appropriate. 
(3) PUBLIC MEETINGS AND COMMENT.—In con-
ducting the study under paragraph (1) and pre-
paring the report under paragraph (2), the Commis-
sion shall solicit public comment and hold public 
meetings with stakeholder groups. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
be composed of 10 members, as follows: 
(i) The Secretary of Energy (or the 
Secretary’s delegate). 
(ii) Nine members shall be appointed 
by the President of the United States, 
after consideration of recommendations 
from the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the majority leader of the 
Senate, the minority leader of the House of 
Representatives, and the minority leader of 
the Senate. 
(B) 
APPOINTMENT.—Appointments 
of 
members to the Commission shall be made not 
later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
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(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Com-
mission shall include individuals who— 
(A) represent the interests of— 
(i) the civilian nuclear power sector of 
the United States; 
(ii) nuclear reactor design and manu-
facturing companies; 
(iii) the nuclear fuels industry; 
(iv) electric grid operators, such as 
electric utilities; 
(v) Federal and State policy makers; 
(vi) energy sector financing experts; 
and 
(vii) nuclear nonproliferation experts; 
and 
(B) have demonstrated experience and un-
derstanding of the civilian nuclear power sector, 
nuclear engineering or physics, civilian nuclear 
energy project financing, or State or Federal 
regulations that impact the development of new 
civilian nuclear power projects. 
(3) PARTISANSHIP.—Not more than 5 members 
of the Commission may be members of the same po-
litical party. 
(4) TERMS AND VACANCIES.— 
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(A) TERMS.—Each member shall be ap-
pointed for the life of the Commission. 
(B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Com-
mission shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment, except the individual 
appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve only for 
the unexpired portion of the term for which the 
individual’s predecessor was appointed. 
(d) RULES AND PROCEDURES.— 
(1) SELECTION
OF
CHAIRPERSON.—The Sec-
retary of Energy (or the Secretary’s delegate) shall 
serve as Chairperson of the Commission. 
(2) QUORUM
REQUIREMENTS.—To meet a 
quorum, at least 6 members of the Commission, in-
cluding the Chairperson, need to be present either in 
person or via video conferencing. 
(3) FORMULATING OTHER RULES OF PROCE-
DURE.—The Commission shall set its own rules of 
procedure for announcements, meetings, and report-
ing to Congress and the President. 
(e) MEETINGS.— 
(1) FIRST
MEETING.—The Commission shall 
hold its first meeting not later than 30 days after 
all members have been appointed to the Commission. 
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(2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.—The Commission 
shall hold meetings on a quarterly basis throughout 
the life of the Commission. 
(f) COSTS AND FUNDING.—Funding for the Commis-
sion shall be derived from the Department of Energy’s an-
nual appropriated funds. 
Æ 
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