The House of Representatives passed several nuclear energy-related bills Monday evening that address varying facets of the nuclear fuel cycle in an effort to streamline licensing and construct more nuclear capacity.
On the first day back following the midterm election, six nuclear energy bills hit the House floor after advancing out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in September. The legislation will move to the Senate for committee review.
The Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act, which would make it easier to license certain spent fuel reprocessing facilities, passed out of the House in a resounding 397 – 2 vote. The American Enrichment Deployment Act, that seeks to accelerate licensing for uranium enrichment facilities, also sailed through a 394 – 3 vote.
Other bills passed by voice votes are:
Votes for the Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act, a bill that deals with seeking more transparency from DOE on its work relating to nuclear facilities, and the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, a bill that would codify Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s ability to forgo a hearing when a license application is uncontested, were postponed.
Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), chair of the House Energy and Commerce’s energy subcommittee, spoke on the bills on the House floor, supporting the bills’ effort to grow the domestic nuclear industry. Latta, along with other supporters, also said the bills will modernize licensing for emerging advanced nuclear technologies.
