I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4066 
To enable high-performance computation and supportive research and nuclear 
energy innovation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 18, 2015 
Mr. GRAYSON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To enable high-performance computation and supportive 
research and nuclear energy innovation. 
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 Innovation 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADVANCED FISSION REACTOR.—The term 
‘‘advanced fission reactor’’ means a nuclear fission 
reactor with significant improvements over the most 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:50 Nov 23, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4066.IH
H4066
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
computational software and capabilities that pro-
spective users may access to accelerate research and 
development of advanced fission reactor systems, nu-
clear fusion systems, and reactor systems for space 
exploration. 
(2) Developing computational tools to simulate 
and predict nuclear phenomena that may be vali-
dated through physical experimentation. 
(3) Increasing the utility of the Department’s 
research infrastructure by coordinating with the Ad-
vanced Scientific Computing Research program 
within the Office of Science. 
(4) Leveraging experience from the Energy In-
novation Hub for Modeling and Simulation. 
(5) Ensuring that new experimental and com-
putational tools are accessible to relevant research 
communities. 
(b) SUPPORTIVE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.—The Sec-
retary shall consider support for additional research activi-
ties to maximize the utility of its research facilities, includ-
ing physical processes to simulate degradation of materials 
and behavior of fuel forms and for validation of computa-
tional tools. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:50 Nov 23, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4066.IH
H4066
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. ENABLING NUCLEAR ENERGY INNOVATION. 
(a) NATIONAL REACTOR INNOVATION CENTER.—The 
Secretary shall carry out a program to enable the testing 
and demonstration of reactor concepts to be proposed and 
funded by the private sector. The Secretary shall leverage 
the technical expertise of relevant Federal agencies and 
National Laboratories in order to minimize the time re-
quired to enable construction and operation of privately 
funded experimental reactors at National Laboratories or 
other Department-owned sites while ensuring reasonable 
safety for persons working within these sites. Such reac-
tors shall operate to meet the following objectives: 
(1) Enabling physical validation of novel reactor 
concepts. 
(2) Resolving technical uncertainty and increas-
ing practical knowledge relevant to safety, resilience, 
security, and functionality of first-of-a-kind reactor 
concepts. 
(3) General research and development to im-
prove nascent technologies. 
(b) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the National Laboratories, rel-
evant Federal agencies, and other stakeholders, shall 
transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:50 Nov 23, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4066.IH
H4066
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report 
assessing the Department’s capabilities to authorize, host, 
and oversee privately funded fusion and advanced fission 
experimental reactors as described under subsection (a). 
The report shall address the following: 
(1) The Department’s safety review and over-
sight capabilities, including options to leverage ex-
pertise from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
and National Laboratories. 
(2) Potential sites capable of hosting activities 
described under subsection (a). 
(3) The efficacy of the Department’s available 
contractual mechanisms to partner with the private 
sector and Federal agencies, including cooperative 
research and development agreements, strategic 
partnership projects, and agreements for commer-
cializing technology. 
(4) Potential cost structures related to physical 
security, decommissioning, liability, and other long 
term project costs. 
(5) Other challenges or considerations identified 
by the Secretary. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:50 Nov 23, 2015
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4066.IH
H4066
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS