‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out 
the plan provided under paragraph (2), the Sec-
retary shall consider the following: 
‘‘(i) Capabilities that support experi-
mental high-temperature testing. 
‘‘(ii) Providing a source of fast neu-
trons at a neutron flux, higher than that at 
which current research facilities operate, 
sufficient to enable research for an optimal 
base of prospective users. 
‘‘(iii) Maximizing irradiation flexi-
bility and irradiation volume to accommo-
date as many concurrent users as possible. 
‘‘(iv) Capabilities for irradiation with 
neutrons of a lower energy spectrum. 
‘‘(v) Multiple loops for fuels and mate-
rials testing in different coolants. 
‘‘(vi) Additional pre-irradiation and 
post-irradiation examination capabilities. 
‘‘(vii) Lifetime operating costs and 
lifecycle costs. 
‘‘(4) REPORTING
PROGRESS.—The Department 
shall, in its annual budget requests, provide an expla-
nation for any delay in its progress and otherwise 
make every effort to complete construction and ap-
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prove the start of operations for this facility by De-
cember 31, 2025. 
‘‘(5) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall lever-
age the best practices for management, construction, 
and operation of national user facilities from the Of-
fice of Science.’’. 
SEC. 7. SECURITY OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES. 
Section 956 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16276) is amended by striking ‘‘, acting through the 
Director of the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Tech-
nology,’’. 
SEC. 8. HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTATION AND SUP-
PORTIVE RESEARCH. 
Section 957 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16277) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 957. HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTATION AND SUP-
PORTIVE RESEARCH. 
‘‘(a) MODELING
AND SIMULATION.—The Secretary 
shall carry out a program to enhance the Nation’s capabili-
ties to develop new reactor technologies through high-per-
formance computation modeling and simulation techniques. 
This program shall coordinate with relevant Federal agen-
cies through the National Strategic Computing Initiative 
created under Executive Order 13702 (July 29, 2015) while 
taking into account the following objectives: 
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‘‘(1) Utilizing expertise from the private sector, 
universities, and National Laboratories to develop 
computational software and capabilities that prospec-
tive users may access to accelerate research and devel-
opment of advanced fission reactor systems, nuclear 
fusion systems, and reactor systems for space explo-
ration. 
‘‘(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 with-
in 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.’’. 
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SEC. 9. ENABLING NUCLEAR ENERGY INNOVATION. 
Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 958. 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 Na-
tional Laboratories in order to minimize the time required 
to enable construction and operation of privately funded ex-
perimental reactors at National Laboratories or other De-
partment-owned sites while ensuring reasonable safety for 
persons working within these sites. Such reactors shall oper-
ate to meet the following objectives: 
‘‘(1) Enabling physical validation of novel reac-
tor concepts. 
‘‘(2) Resolving technical uncertainty and in-
creasing practical knowledge relevant to safety, resil-
ience, security, and functionality of first-of-a-kind re-
actor 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 the Nuclear Energy In-
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novation Capabilities Act, the Secretary, in consultation 
with the National Laboratories, relevant Federal agencies, 
and other stakeholders, shall transmit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
of the Senate a report assessing the Department’s capabili-
ties 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 exper-
tise 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 re-
search and development agreements, strategic partner-
ship projects, and agreements for commercializing 
technology. 
‘‘(4) Potential cost structures related to physical 
security, decommissioning, liability, and other long- 
term project costs. 
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‘‘(5) Other challenges or considerations identified 
by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 10. BUDGET PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 959. BUDGET PLAN. 
‘‘Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment 
of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, the De-
partment shall transmit to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Sen-
ate 3 alternative 10-year budget plans for civilian nuclear 
energy research and development by the Department. The 
first shall assume constant annual funding for 10 years at 
the appropriated level for the Department’s civilian nuclear 
energy research and development for fiscal year 2016. The 
second shall assume 2 percent annual increases to the ap-
propriated level for the Department’s nuclear energy re-
search and development for fiscal year 2016. The third shall 
be an unconstrained budget. The 3 plans shall include— 
‘‘(1) a prioritized list of the Department’s pro-
grams, projects, and activities to best support the de-
velopment of next generation nuclear energy tech-
nology; 
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‘‘(2) realistic budget requirements for the De-
partment to implement sections 955(c), 957, and 958 
of this Act; and 
‘‘(3) the Department’s justification for con-
tinuing or terminating existing civilian nuclear en-
ergy research and development programs.’’. 
(b) REPORT ON FUSION INNOVATION.—Not later than 
six months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of the Department of Energy shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources of the Senate a report that will identify en-
gineering designs for innovative fusion energy systems that 
have the potential to demonstrate net energy production not 
later than 15 years after the start of construction. In this 
report, the Secretary will identify budgetary requirements 
that would be necessary for the Department to carry out 
a fusion innovation initiative to accelerate research and de-
velopment of these designs. 
SEC. 11. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
The table of contents for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 957 and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘957. High-performance computation and supportive research. 
‘‘958. Enabling nuclear energy innovation. 
‘‘959. Budget plan.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 335 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4084 
[Report No. 114–438] 
A BILL 
To enable civilian research and development of ad-
vanced nuclear energy technologies by private 
and public institutions and to expand theoretical 
and practical knowledge of nuclear physics, 
chemistry, and materials science. 
FEBRUARY 29, 2016 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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