National Nuclear University Research Infrastructure Reinvestment Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.4819 | Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez, Anthony (R-OH)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
National Nuclear University Research Infrastructure Reinvestment Act of 2021
This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and expands the Nuclear Energy University Program within the Department of Energy (DOE) that supports university research and training in nuclear science and engineering. For example, the bill expands the program to provide support to universities for revitalizing and upgrading existing nuclear science and engineering infrastructure that support the development of advanced nuclear technologies and applications. In addition, the bill establishes an Advanced Nuclear Research Infrastructure Enhancement Subprogram under which DOE must establish four new research reactors as well as new nuclear science and engineering facilities.

To require the Secretary of Energy to revitalize existing university 
    infrastructure relating to nuclear science and engineering and 
    establish new university-based nuclear science and engineering 
                  facilities, and for other purposes.


 


    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Nuclear University Research 
Infrastructure Reinvestment Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to upgrade the nuclear research capabilities of 
        universities in the United States to meet the research 
        requirements of advanced nuclear energy systems;
            (2) to ensure the continued operation of university 
        research reactors;
            (3) to coordinate available resources to enable the 
        establishment, including the start and efficient completion of 
        construction, of new nuclear science and engineering 
        facilities; and
            (4) to support--
                    (A) workforce development critical to maintaining 
                United States leadership in nuclear science and 
                engineering and related disciplines; and
                    (B) the establishment or enhancement of nuclear 
                science and engineering capabilities and other, related 
                capabilities at historically Black colleges and 
                universities, Tribal colleges or universities, 
                minority-serving institutions, EPSCoR universities, 
                junior or community colleges, and associate-degree-
                granting colleges.

SEC. 3. UNIVERSITY INFRASTRUCTURE COLLABORATION.

    Section 954(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16274(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (D) to read 
        as follows:
                    ``(D) promote collaborations, partnerships, and 
                knowledge sharing between institutions of higher 
                education, National Laboratories, other Federal 
                agencies, industry, and associated labor unions; and''; 
                and
            (2) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
            ``(4) Strengthening university research and training 
        reactors and associated infrastructure.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In carrying out the program 
                under this subsection, the Secretary may support--
                            ``(i) converting research reactors from 
                        high-enrichment fuels to low-enrichment fuels 
                        and upgrading operational instrumentation;
                            ``(ii) revitalizing and upgrading existing 
                        nuclear science and engineering infrastructure 
                        that support the development of advanced 
                        nuclear technologies and applications;
                            ``(iii) regional or subregional university-
                        led consortia to--
                                    ``(I) broaden access to university 
                                research reactors;
                                    ``(II) enhance existing university-
                                based nuclear science and engineering 
                                infrastructure; and
                                    ``(III) provide project management, 
                                technical support, quality engineering 
                                and inspections, manufacturing, and 
                                nuclear material support;
                            ``(iv) student training programs, in 
                        collaboration with the United States nuclear 
                        industry, in relicensing and upgrading 
                        reactors, including through the provision of 
                        technical assistance; and
                            ``(v) reactor improvements that emphasize 
                        research, training, and education, including 
                        through the Innovations in Nuclear 
                        Infrastructure and Education Program or any 
                        similar program.
                    ``(B) Authorization of appropriations.--Of any 
                amounts appropriated to carry out the program under 
                this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated 
                to the Secretary to carry out clauses (ii) and (iii) of 
                subparagraph (A) $55,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
                2022 through 2026.''.

SEC. 4. ADVANCED NUCLEAR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENT 
              SUBPROGRAM.

    Section 954(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16274(a)), as amended by section 3, is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (8) as 
        paragraphs (6) through (9), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
            ``(5) Advanced nuclear research infrastructure 
        enhancement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a 
                subprogram to be known as the Advanced Nuclear Research 
                Infrastructure Enhancement Subprogram in order to--
                            ``(i) demonstrate various advanced nuclear 
                        reactor and nuclear microreactor concepts;
                            ``(ii) establish medical isotope production 
                        reactors or other specialized applications; and
                            ``(iii) advance other research 
                        infrastructure that, in the determination of 
                        the Secretary, is consistent with the mission 
                        of the Department.
                    ``(B) New nuclear science and engineering 
                facilities.--In carrying out the subprogram, the 
                Secretary shall establish--
                            ``(i) not more than 4 new research 
                        reactors; and
                            ``(ii) new nuclear science and engineering 
                        facilities, as required to address research 
                        demand and identified infrastructure gaps.
                    ``(C) Locations.--New research reactors and 
                facilities established under subparagraph (B) shall be 
                established in a manner that--
                            ``(i) supports the regional or subregional 
                        consortia described in paragraph (4)(C); and
                            ``(ii) encourages the participation of--
                                    ``(I) historically Black colleges 
                                and universities;
                                    ``(II) Tribal colleges or 
                                universities;
                                    ``(III) minority-serving 
                                institutions;
                                    ``(IV) EPSCoR universities;
                                    ``(V) junior or community colleges; 
                                and
                                    ``(VI) associate-degree-granting 
                                colleges.
                    ``(D) Fuel requirements.--New research reactors 
                established under subparagraph (B) shall not use high-
                enriched uranium, as defined in section 2001 of 
                division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 
                2021.
                    ``(E) Authorization of appropriations.--Of any 
                amounts appropriated to carry out the program under 
                this subsection, there are authorized to be 
                appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the 
                subprogram under this paragraph--
                            ``(i) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
                            ``(ii) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
                            ``(iii) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                            ``(iv) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
                            ``(v) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
                            ``(vi) $140,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
                            ``(vii) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; 
                        and
                            ``(viii) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2029.''; and
            (3) by amending paragraph (9), as redesignated by paragraph 
        (1) of this subsection, to read as follows:
            ``(9) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Associate-degree-granting college.--The term 
                `associate-degree-granting college' means an 
                institution of higher education (as determined under 
                section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1001)) that--
                            ``(i) is a nonprofit institution that 
                        offers a 2-year associate-degree program or a 
                        2-year certificate program; or
                            ``(ii) is a proprietary institution that 
                        offers a 2-year associate degree program.
                    ``(B) Junior faculty.--The term `junior faculty' 
                means a faculty member who was awarded a doctorate less 
                than 10 years before receipt of an award from the grant 
                program described in paragraph (2)(B).
                    ``(C) Junior or community college.--The term 
                `junior or community college' has the meaning given the 
                term in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 1058).
                    ``(D) EPSCoR university.--The term `EPSCoR 
                university' means an institution of higher education 
                located in a State eligible to participate in the 
                program defined in section 502 of the America COMPETES 
                Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p note).
                    ``(E) Historically black college or university.--
                The term `historically Black college or university' has 
                the meaning given the term `part B institution' in 
                section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1061).
                    ``(F) Minority-serving institution.--The term 
                `minority-serving institution' means a Hispanic-serving 
                institution, an Alaska Native-serving institution, a 
                Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, a Predominantly 
                Black Institution, an Asian American and Native 
                American Pacific Islander-serving institution, or a 
                Native American-serving nontribal institution as 
                described in section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
                    ``(G) Tribal college or university.--The term 
                `Tribal college or university' has the meaning given 
                such term in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c).''.

SEC. 5. SCIENCE EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES SCHOLARSHIPS, 
              FELLOWSHIPS, AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--The purpose of this section is to support a 
diverse workforce for the complex landscape associated with effective 
and equitable development of advanced nuclear energy technologies, 
including interdisciplinary research to enable positive impacts and 
avoid potential negative impacts across the lifespan of nuclear energy 
technologies.
    (b) Nontechnical Nuclear Research.--Section 313 of the Omnibus 
Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-8; 42 U.S.C. 16274a) is 
amended:
            (1) in subsection (b)(2), after ``engineering'', by 
        inserting ``, which may include nontechnical nuclear 
        research'';
            (2) in subsection (c), by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
        following:
            ``(3) Nontechnical nuclear research.--The term 
        `nontechnical nuclear research' means research with 
        specializations such as social sciences or law that can support 
        an increase in community engagement, participation, and 
        confidence in nuclear energy systems, including the navigation 
        of the licensing required for advanced reactor deployment, 
        aligned with the objectives in section 951(a)(2) of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271(a)(2)).''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``$30,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$45,000,000''.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 362

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 4819

                          [Report No. 117-466]

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