[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8129 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8129
To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out an initiative to
encourage States to enhance the dissemination of nuclear information at
certain schools, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 26, 2024
Mr. Donalds (for himself, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Norman, Mr. Williams of
New York, and Mr. Nehls) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out an initiative to
encourage States to enhance the dissemination of nuclear information at
certain schools, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Nuclear Workforce Act''.
SEC. 2. NUCLEAR EDUCATION INITIATIVE.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish and
carry out an initiative to encourage States to enhance the
dissemination of nuclear science and technology information at covered
schools.
(b) Degrees.--In carrying out the initiative established under
subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall encourage States to work
with institutions of higher education that are covered schools, to, as
appropriate, incorporate degrees that may be relevant in the nuclear
energy industry, including degrees in environmental science, biology,
chemistry, nuclear engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical
engineering, civil engineering, systems engineering, radiochemistry,
applied and engineering physics, materials science, and occupational
safety and health.
(c) Tours and Outreach.--In carrying out the initiative established
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall encourage--
(1) covered schools to engage with local nuclear power
plants to provide students with tours of such nuclear power
plants to learn about nuclear energy firsthand; and
(2) relevant nuclear stakeholders to engage with covered
schools about potential professional opportunities within the
nuclear industry, including by providing information regarding
paid and unpaid internships, scholarships, apprenticeships,
fellowships, and other experiential opportunities.
(d) Nuclear Energy University Program.--The Secretary of Energy
shall, to the extent practicable, carry out the initiative established
under subsection (a) in conjunction with the Nuclear Energy University
Program of the Department of Energy.
(e) Consideration.--In establishing and carrying out the initiative
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall take into
consideration the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Uniform
Curriculum Program Guide.
(f) Mentorship Program.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the initiative established
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall establish
and carry out a mentorship program to pair volunteers who are
employed in the nuclear industry with students in covered
schools, including for virtual teleconference mentorship
opportunities.
(2) Procedures.--In carrying out the mentorship program
established under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Energy shall
establish procedures to appropriately pair students with
volunteers, based on career interest, geographic location, or
any other consideration the Secretary determines appropriate.
(3) Consideration.--In carrying out the mentorship program
established under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Energy shall
consider any ongoing efforts to establish, or already
established, mentorship programs or opportunities that may be
relevant and could be utilized.
(g) Research and Test Reactors.--In carrying out the initiative
established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall
encourage States to work with institutions of higher education that
have a research and test reactor on campus to continue to use the
research and test reactor--
(1) to assist in preparing students for careers in the
nuclear workforce, including careers at nuclear power plants
and in the nuclear energy supply chain; and
(2) to help inform the general student body about nuclear
energy.
(h) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Covered school.--The term ``covered school'' means--
(A) an institution of higher education or a
secondary school that is located within approximately
25 miles (or such distance as the Secretary of Energy
determines appropriate) of--
(i) a commercially operating nuclear power
plant; or
(ii) the headquarters for a nuclear reactor
developer; or
(B) any other institution of higher education or
secondary school that the Secretary of Energy
determines appropriate.
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 or 102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002(a)(1)(B)).
(3) Research and test reactor.--The term ``research and
test reactor'' has the meaning given such term in section 3(11)
of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42
U.S.C. 2215 note).
(4) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has
the meaning given such term in section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
<all>