As the House of Representatives returns to session on Nov. 9, the full chamber is expected to vote on several nuclear energy-related bills early in the week.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the six nuclear bills out of the full committee in overwhelming bipartisan fashion in September. According to the House’s schedule, the chamber will resume work on Monday and votes could occur around 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Here are the bills that will be considered:
- The Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utlizing Expedited Licensing) Act, introduced by Reps. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.),seeks to amend the Atomic Energy Act to make it easier to win approval for certain reprocessing of spent fuel and hopefully reduce the amount of nuclear waste being generated.
- The American Enrichment Deployment Act, introduced by Reps. Russell Fry (R-S.C.), Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) and Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), would streamline licensing processes for uranium enrichment facilities.
- The Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, introduced by Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), Schrier and Marc Veasey (D-Texas), would codify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing decision to waive a hearing when an application is uncontested.
- The Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), seeks more transparency related to DOE’s nuclear facilities actions.
- The NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act, introduced by Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), would change the Atomic Energy Act “to provide compensation authority for certain career appointees, and for other purposes.”
- The Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act, introduced by Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), looks to update the role of NRC’s Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards in nuclear licensing and oversight.
