I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6544 
To advance the benefits of nuclear energy by enabling efficient, timely, and 
predictable licensing, regulation, and deployment of nuclear energy tech-
nologies, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 1, 2023 
Mr. DUNCAN (for himself and Ms. DEGETTE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and For-
eign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
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, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Atomic Energy Advancement Act’’. 
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(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-
latory Commission shall, while remaining consistent 
with the policies of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 
(including to provide reasonable assurance of ade-
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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. 
(b) OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION.— 
Section 203 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 
(42 U.S.C. 5843) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘(a) There’’ 
and inserting the following: 
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‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT; APPOINTMENT
OF DIREC-
TOR.—There’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(b) Subject’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(b) FUNCTIONS OF DIRECTOR.—Subject’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘delegate including:’’ 
and inserting ‘‘delegate, including the fol-
lowing:’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘for the 
discharge of the’’ and inserting ‘‘to fulfill the li-
censing and regulatory oversight’’; 
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘(c) Nothing’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFE OPERATION OF FA-
CILITIES.—Nothing’’; and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(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 
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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: 
‘‘(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-
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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)— 
(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: 
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‘‘(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— 
(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 
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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; 
‘‘(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-
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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’’. 
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’) 
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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 
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— 
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‘‘(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. 
‘‘(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 
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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— 
‘‘(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 
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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. 
‘‘(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; 
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‘‘(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 
‘‘(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.— 
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‘‘(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.— 
‘‘(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 
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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.— 
‘‘(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-
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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. 
‘‘(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— 
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‘‘(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; 
‘‘(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 
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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 
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 
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or other personnel is responsible for conducting work of 
a scientific, technical, engineering, mathematical, legal, 
managerial, or otherwise highly specialized or skilled na-
ture.’’. 
(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; 
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(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; 
(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), 
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(14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), and (20), respec-
tively; 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(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 
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(4) by inserting after paragraph (11) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(12) MISSION-DIRECT
PROGRAM
SALARIES 
AND BENEFITS.—The term ‘mission-direct program 
salaries and benefits’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 170.3 of title 10, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation). 
‘‘(13) MISSION-INDIRECT PROGRAM SUPPORT.— 
The term ‘mission-indirect program support’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 170.3 of title 10, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regu-
lation).’’. 
(b) EXCLUDED ACTIVITIES.—Section 102(b)(1)(B) 
of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act 
(42 U.S.C. 2215(b)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(iv) The total costs of mission-indi-
rect program support and agency support 
that, under paragraph (2)(B)(ii), may not 
be included in the professional hourly rate 
charged for fees assessed and collected 
from advanced nuclear reactor applicants. 
‘‘(v) The total costs of mission-indi-
rect program support and agency support 
that, under paragraph (2)(C)(ii), may not 
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be included in the professional hourly rate 
charged for fees assessed and collected 
from 
advanced 
nuclear 
reactor 
preapplicants.’’. 
(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— 
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‘‘(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 
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: 
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‘‘(f) PRIZES FOR ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTOR LI-
CENSING.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION
OF
ELIGIBLE
ENTITY.—In 
this subsection, the term ‘eligible entity’ means— 
‘‘(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 
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‘‘(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 
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 
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section 52.1 of that title (or successor regula-
tions)). 
‘‘(C) AWARD
CATEGORIES.—An award 
under subparagraph (A) may be made for— 
‘‘(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— 
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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; 
‘‘(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 
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‘‘(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— 
‘‘(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 
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‘‘(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.— 
‘‘(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 
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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 
‘‘(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. 
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(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; 
(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; 
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(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; 
(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; 
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(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 
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, 
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that would streamline communications be-
tween— 
(i) the Commission and applicants; 
and 
(ii) the Commission and other rel-
evant cooperating agencies; and 
(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). 
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