Atomic Energy Advancement Act

Bill: 118-hr-6544
Sponsor: Rep. Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3]
Introduced: 2023-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Building construction
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional oversight
Electric power generation and transmission
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee hiring
Energy prices
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Industrial facilities
International organizations and cooperation
Licensing and registrations
Nuclear power
Performance measurement
Pollution liability
Public contracts and procurement
Radioactive wastes and releases
Technology transfer and commercialization
Trade agreements and negotiations
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2023-12-01
text: 

Atomic Energy Advancement Act

 
This bill establishes various requirements to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy technologies, such as advanced nuclear reactors.
 
Specifically, the bill sets forth requirements that direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to efficiently license and regulate nuclear energy activities. The bill also revises the NRC's hiring process to enable the NRC to respond to a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need by using direct hiring for certain positions to carry out NRC's responsibilities and activities in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.
 
It also reduces certain licensing fees charged by the NRC for advanced nuclear reactors. Further, it authorizes the Department of Energy (DOE) to make awards that pay for certain licensing fees.
 
Additionally, the bill directs the NRC to promulgate a final rule that implements a process to facilitate efficient and timely environmental reviews of nuclear reactor applications.
 
The NRC must also develop and implement strategies to enable efficient and timely licensing reviews for, and to support the oversight of, nuclear facilities at brownfield sites, including sites with retired fossil fuel facilities.
 
Next, the bill sets forth requirements for expediting certain licensing decisions for new nuclear reactors that will use a previously licensed design and will be on or adjacent to a site on which a nuclear reactor already operates or previously operated. 
 
It also establishes a pilot program that allows DOE to make long-term power purchase agreements for power generated by commercial nuclear reactors.
 
Finally, the bill establishes requirements concerning international nuclear energy cooperation and safety.

action_date: 2024-02-16
text: 

Atomic Energy Advancement Act

 
This bill establishes various requirements to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy technologies, such as advanced nuclear reactors.
 
Specifically, the bill sets forth requirements that direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to efficiently license and regulate nuclear energy activities. The bill also revises the NRC's hiring process to enable the NRC to respond to a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need by using direct hiring for certain positions to carry out NRC's responsibilities and activities in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.
 
It also reduces certain licensing fees charged by the NRC for advanced nuclear reactors. Further, it authorizes the Department of Energy (DOE) to make awards that pay for certain licensing fees.
 
Additionally, the bill directs the NRC to promulgate a final rule that implements a process to facilitate efficient and timely environmental reviews of nuclear reactor applications.
 
The NRC must also develop and implement strategies to enable efficient and timely licensing reviews for, and to support the oversight of, nuclear facilities at brownfield sites, including sites with retired fossil fuel facilities.
 
Next, the bill sets forth requirements for expediting certain licensing decisions for new nuclear reactors that will use a previously licensed design and will be on or adjacent to a site on which a nuclear reactor already operates or previously operated. 
 
It also establishes a pilot program that allows DOE to make long-term power purchase agreements for power generated by commercial nuclear reactors.
 
Finally, the bill establishes requirements concerning international nuclear energy cooperation and safety.

action_date: 2024-02-28
text: 

Atomic Energy Advancement Act

 
This bill establishes various requirements to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy technologies, such as advanced nuclear reactors.
 
Specifically, the bill sets forth requirements that direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to efficiently license and regulate nuclear energy activities. The bill also revises the NRC's hiring process to enable the NRC to respond to a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need by using direct hiring for certain positions to carry out NRC's responsibilities and activities in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.
 
It also reduces certain licensing fees charged by the NRC for advanced nuclear reactors. Further, it authorizes the Department of Energy (DOE) to make awards that pay for certain licensing fees.
 
Additionally, the bill directs the NRC to promulgate a final rule that implements a process to facilitate efficient and timely environmental reviews of nuclear reactor applications.
 
The NRC must also develop and implement strategies to enable efficient and timely licensing reviews for, and to support the oversight of, nuclear facilities at brownfield sites, including sites with retired fossil fuel facilities.
 
Next, the bill sets forth requirements for expediting certain licensing decisions for new nuclear reactors that will use a previously licensed design and will be on or adjacent to a site on which a nuclear reactor already operates or previously operated. 
 
It also authorizes DOE to establish a pilot program under which DOE may make certain long-term power purchase agreements for power generated by commercial nuclear reactors.
 
Finally, the bill establishes requirements concerning international nuclear energy cooperation and safety.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-02-29
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2024-02-28
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-02-28
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 365 - 36, 1 Present (Roll no. 55). (text: CR H703-711)
action_date: 2024-02-28
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 365 - 36, 1 Present (Roll no. 55). (text: CR H703-711)
action_date: 2024-02-28
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H730-731)
action_date: 2024-02-28
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2024-02-28
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6544.
action_date: 2024-02-28
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H703-715)
action_date: 2024-02-28
text: Mr. Duncan moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2024-02-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 320.
action_date: 2024-02-16
text: Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.
action_date: 2024-02-16
text: Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.
action_date: 2024-02-16
text: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2024-02-16
text: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2024-02-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-391, Part I.
action_date: 2024-02-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-391, Part I.
action_date: 2023-12-05
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 47 - 2.
action_date: 2023-12-05
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2023-12-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
action_date: 2023-12-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
action_date: 2023-12-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
action_date: 2023-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-10-24
text: Consideration and Mark-up Session Held by the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security Prior to Introduction and Referral
action_date: 2023-07-18
text: Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security Prior to Introduction and Referral