Twenty-First Century Nuclear Security Act
Bill: H.R.3995 | Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez, Anthony (R-OH)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Twenty-First Century Nuclear Security Act
This bill requires the Department of Energy to report on matters related to global nuclear safety, nuclear security, and nuclear nonproliferation, as well as the risks posed by Russia and China to the global nuclear energy market.

To direct the Secretary of Energy to submit to Congress a report on the 
            global nuclear leadership of the United States.

    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 ``Twenty-First Century Nuclear 
Security Act''.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON GLOBAL NUCLEAR LEADERSHIP OF THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with 
the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Secretary of Commerce, shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report analyzing--
            (1) the opportunities for advancing the interests of the 
        United States with respect to global nuclear safety, nuclear 
        security, and nuclear nonproliferation; and
            (2) the risks to such interests of the United States, and 
        the risks to wider foreign policy influence by the United 
        States, posed by the dominance of Russia in the global nuclear 
        energy market and the increasing supply by China to such 
        market.
    (b) Matters Included.--The report under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) An assessment of the historical role of civil nuclear 
        cooperation agreements and supply arrangements made pursuant to 
        the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) in 
        influencing the policies and practices of foreign governments 
        concerning nuclear safety, nuclear security, and nuclear 
        nonproliferation, and the wider foreign policy interests, 
        including--
                    (A) a description of possible opportunities for 
                using nuclear cooperation agreements and related 
                exports to improve nuclear safety, nuclear security, 
                and nuclear nonproliferation, and the foreign policy 
                interests of the United States;
                    (B) a description of potential risks associated 
                with such agreements and nuclear exports; and
                    (C) a description of the potential market for small 
                and advanced reactor technologies.
            (2) An assessment of the competitiveness of the United 
        States against Russia and China in the global nuclear energy 
        market, including--
                    (A) a comparison of nuclear reactor research and 
                design by Russia and China with analogous research and 
                design by the United States;
                    (B) a comparison of the ability of Russia and China 
                to produce and export nuclear technology with analogous 
                abilities of the United States;
                    (C) a description of the factors enabling progress 
                made by Russia and China regarding civil nuclear 
                technology;
                    (D) a comparison of the export policies of the 
                United States with regard to civil nuclear technology, 
                including the role, if any, of financial support, with 
                such policies of Russia and China;
                    (E) a list of specific reactor designs, including 
                fuel characteristics, that Russia and China have 
                offered for export; and
                    (F) details of any agreements made by Russia or 
                China for exporting nuclear technology, including the 
                duration, purchase price, potential profitability, any 
                provisions regarding spent fuel take back, related 
                regulatory support, and any other elements that 
                compromise a competitive offer.
            (3) An assessment, if applicable, of the means by which 
        Russia or China uses foreign-origin dual-use nuclear technology 
        for military purposes.
            (4) Recommendations for regulatory or legislative actions 
        for developing a robust free-enterprise response designed to 
        improve the competitiveness of the United States in the global 
        nuclear energy market.
    (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the congressional defense committees (as defined in 
        section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code);
            (2) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the 
        Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select Committee on 
        Intelligence of the Senate; and
            (3) the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on 
        Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on 
        Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
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