Title: To establish the American Nuclear Leadership Commission, and for other purposes.
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
This bill establishes an American Nuclear Leadership Commission within the Department of Energy. The commission must study the current status and the future of the civilian nuclear power industry of the United States.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9028 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9028

To establish the American Nuclear Leadership Commission, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 18, 2020

 Mr. Burgess introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 
Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish the American Nuclear Leadership Commission, 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. AMERICAN NUCLEAR LEADERSHIP COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission within the 
Department of Energy to be known as the ``American Nuclear Leadership 
Commission'' (in this Act referred to as ``the Commission'').
    (b) Duties.--
            (1) Study.--The Commission shall conduct a study of the 
        current status and the future of the civilian nuclear power 
        industry of the United States, including examination of--
                    (A) the process by which nuclear reactors are 
                developed, constructed, and operated for civilian 
                commercial purposes within the United States, including 
                the process for--
                            (i) nuclear reactors currently in 
                        operation; and
                            (ii) advanced reactor designs;
                    (B) potential market opportunities for advanced 
                reactors domestically and internationally;
                    (C) the challenges posed to the United States 
                domestic nuclear fuels lifecycle on the ``front end'' 
                (mining, milling, and reprocessing) and on the ``back 
                end'' (storage of spent nuclear fuel);
                    (D) the current industrial capacity of the United 
                States for the design and manufacture of nuclear 
                reactors;
                    (E) the export competitiveness of the United States 
                for nuclear reactors designed and built in the United 
                States in comparison to the export competitiveness of 
                other countries for nuclear reactors designed and built 
                in such countries;
                    (F) whether the use of advanced reactor designs can 
                mitigate the economic challenges posed by high 
                construction costs, low energy prices, and limited 
                sources of capital;
                    (G) the environmental impacts of civilian nuclear 
                power, specifically on the air and water emissions of 
                pollutants, including carbon dioxide, across the 
                lifecycle of a civilian nuclear power plant; and
                    (H) existing regulations and statutes that may 
                limit the expanded use of new nuclear reactors for 
                civilian power generation within the United States and 
                exports abroad.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall prepare and submit 
        to Congress and the President a report on the study under 
        paragraph (1) that includes a detailed statement of the finding 
        and conclusions of the Commission, together with its 
        recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation 
        or administrative acts, that the Commission considers 
        appropriate.
            (3) Public meetings and comment.--In conducting the study 
        under paragraph (1) and preparing the report under paragraph 
        (2), the Commission shall solicit public comment and hold 
        public meetings with stakeholder groups.
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) Number and appointment.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commission shall be composed 
                of 10 members, as follows:
                            (i) The Secretary of Energy (or the 
                        Secretary's delegate).
                            (ii) Nine members shall be appointed by the 
                        President of the United States, after 
                        consideration of recommendations from the 
                        Speaker of the House of Representatives, the 
                        majority leader of the Senate, the minority 
                        leader of the House of Representatives, and the 
                        minority leader of the Senate.
                    (B) Appointment.--Appointments of members to the 
                Commission shall be made not later than 60 days after 
                the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall 
        include individuals who--
                    (A) represent the interests of--
                            (i) the civilian nuclear power sector of 
                        the United States;
                            (ii) nuclear reactor design and 
                        manufacturing companies;
                            (iii) the nuclear fuels industry;
                            (iv) electric grid operators, such as 
                        electric utilities;
                            (v) Federal and State policy makers;
                            (vi) energy sector financing experts; and
                            (vii) nuclear nonproliferation experts; and
                    (B) have demonstrated experience and understanding 
                of the civilian nuclear power sector, nuclear 
                engineering or physics, civilian nuclear energy project 
                financing, or State or Federal regulations that impact 
                the development of new civilian nuclear power projects.
            (3) Partisanship.--Not more than 5 members of the 
        Commission may be members of the same political party.
            (4) Terms and vacancies.--
                    (A) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the 
                life of the Commission.
                    (B) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall 
                be filled in the same manner as the original 
                appointment, except the individual appointed to fill 
                the vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired portion 
                of the term for which the individual's predecessor was 
                appointed.
    (d) Rules and Procedures.--
            (1) Selection of chairperson.--The Secretary of Energy (or 
        the Secretary's delegate) shall serve as Chairperson of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Quorum requirements.--To meet a quorum, at least 6 
        members of the Commission, including the Chairperson, need to 
        be present either in person or via video conferencing.
            (3) Formulating other rules of procedure.--The Commission 
        shall set its own rules of procedure for announcements, 
        meetings, and reporting to Congress and the President.
    (e) Meetings.--
            (1) First meeting.--The Commission shall hold its first 
        meeting not later than 30 days after all members have been 
        appointed to the Commission.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--The Commission shall hold 
        meetings on a quarterly basis throughout the life of the 
        Commission.
    (f) Costs and Funding.--Funding for the Commission shall be derived 
from the Department of Energy's annual appropriated funds.
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