[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1801 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1801
To facilitate the development of a whole-of-government strategy for
nuclear cooperation and nuclear exports, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 19, 2025
Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Heinrich)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To facilitate the development of a whole-of-government strategy for
nuclear cooperation and nuclear exports, 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 ``International Nuclear Energy Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Advanced nuclear reactor.--The term ``advanced nuclear
reactor'' means--
(A) a nuclear fission reactor, including a
prototype plant (as defined in sections 50.2 and 52.1
of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulations)), with significant improvements compared
to reactors operating on October 19, 2016, including
improvements such as--
(i) additional inherent safety features;
(ii) lower waste yields;
(iii) improved fuel and material
performance;
(iv) increased tolerance to loss of fuel
cooling;
(v) enhanced reliability or improved
resilience;
(vi) increased proliferation resistance;
(vii) increased thermal efficiency;
(viii) reduced consumption of cooling water
and other environmental impacts;
(ix) the ability to integrate into electric
applications and nonelectric applications;
(x) modular sizes to allow for deployment
that corresponds with the demand for
electricity or process heat; and
(xi) operational flexibility to respond to
changes in demand for electricity or process
heat and to complement integration with
intermittent renewable energy or energy
storage;
(B) a fusion reactor; and
(C) a radioisotope power system that utilizes heat
from radioactive decay to generate energy.
(2) Ally or partner nation.--The term ``ally or partner
nation'' means--
(A) the Government of any country that is a member
of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development;
(B) the Government of the Republic of India; and
(C) the Government of any country designated as an
ally or partner nation by the Secretary of State for
purposes of this Act.
(3) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committees on Foreign Relations and Energy
and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
(B) the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Energy
and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
(4) Assistant.--The term ``Assistant'' means the Assistant
to the President and Director for International Nuclear Energy
Export Policy described in section 3(a)(1)(D).
(5) Associated entity.--The term ``associated entity''
means an entity that--
(A) is owned, controlled, or operated by--
(i) an ally or partner nation; or
(ii) an associated individual; or
(B) is organized under the laws of, or otherwise
subject to the jurisdiction of, a country described in
paragraph (2), including a corporation that is
incorporated in a country described in that paragraph.
(6) Associated individual.--The term ``associated
individual'' means a foreign national who is a national of a
country described in paragraph (2).
(7) Civil nuclear.--The term ``civil nuclear'' means
activities relating to--
(A) nuclear plant construction;
(B) nuclear fuel services;
(C) nuclear energy financing;
(D) nuclear plant operations;
(E) nuclear plant regulation;
(F) nuclear medicine;
(G) nuclear safety;
(H) community engagement in areas in reasonable
proximity to nuclear sites;
(I) infrastructure support for nuclear energy;
(J) nuclear plant decommissioning;
(K) nuclear liability;
(L) safe storage and safe disposal of spent nuclear
fuel;
(M) environmental safeguards;
(N) nuclear nonproliferation and security; and
(O) technology related to the matters described in
subparagraphs (A) through (N).
(8) Embarking civil nuclear nation.--
(A) In general.--The term ``embarking civil nuclear
nation'' means a country that--
(i) does not have a civil nuclear energy
program;
(ii) is in the process of developing or
expanding a civil nuclear energy program,
including safeguards and a legal and regulatory
framework, for--
(I) nuclear safety;
(II) nuclear security;
(III) radioactive waste management;
(IV) civil nuclear energy;
(V) environmental safeguards;
(VI) community engagement in areas
in reasonable proximity to nuclear
sites;
(VII) nuclear liability; or
(VIII) advanced nuclear reactor
licensing;
(iii) is in the process of selecting,
developing, constructing, or utilizing advanced
light water reactors, advanced nuclear
reactors, or advanced civil nuclear
technologies; or
(iv) is eligible to receive development
lending from the World Bank.
(B) Exclusions.--The term ``embarking civil nuclear
nation'' does not include--
(i) the People's Republic of China;
(ii) the Russian Federation;
(iii) the Republic of Belarus;
(iv) the Islamic Republic of Iran;
(v) the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea;
(vi) the Republic of Cuba;
(vii) the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;
(viii) the Syrian Arab Republic;
(ix) Burma; or
(x) any other country--
(I) the property or interests in
property of the government of which are
blocked pursuant to the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or
(II) the government of which the
Secretary of State has determined has
repeatedly provided support for acts of
international terrorism for purposes
of--
(aa) section 620A(a) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2371(a));
(bb) section 40(d) of the
Arms Export Control Act (22
U.S.C. 2780(d));
(cc) section
1754(c)(1)(A)(i) of the Export
Control Reform Act of 2018 (50
U.S.C. 4813(c)(1)(A)(i)); or
(dd) any other relevant
provision of law.
(9) National energy dominance council.--The term ``National
Energy Dominance Council'' means the National Energy Dominance
Council established within the Executive Office of the
President under Executive Order 14213 (90 Fed. Reg. 9945;
relating to establishing the National Energy Dominance
Council).
(10) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(11) Spent nuclear fuel.--The term ``spent nuclear fuel''
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Nuclear
Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101).
(12) U.S. nuclear energy company.--The term ``U.S. nuclear
energy company'' means a company that--
(A) is organized under the laws of, or otherwise
subject to the jurisdiction of, the United States; and
(B) is involved in the nuclear energy industry.
SEC. 3. CIVIL NUCLEAR COORDINATION AND STRATEGY.
(a) White House Focal Point on Civil Nuclear Coordination.--
(1) Sense of congress.--Given the critical importance of
developing and implementing, with input from various agencies
throughout the executive branch, a cohesive policy with respect
to international efforts related to civil nuclear energy, it is
the sense of Congress that--
(A) there should be a focal point within the White
House, which may, if determined to be appropriate,
report to the National Security Council, for
coordination on issues relating to those efforts;
(B) to provide that focal point, the President
should designate, within the National Energy Dominance
Council, an office, to be known as the ``Office of the
Assistant to the President and Director for
International Nuclear Energy Export Policy'' (referred
to in this subsection as the ``Office'');
(C) the Office should act as a coordinating office
for--
(i) international civil nuclear
cooperation; and
(ii) civil nuclear export strategy;
(D) the Office should be headed by an individual
appointed as an Assistant to the President with the
title of ``Director for International Nuclear Energy
Export Policy'' who is also a member of the National
Energy Dominance Council; and
(E) the Office should--
(i) coordinate civil nuclear export
policies for the United States;
(ii) develop, in coordination with the
officials described in paragraph (2), a
cohesive Federal strategy for engagement with
foreign governments (including ally or partner
nations and the governments of embarking civil
nuclear nations), associated entities, and
associated individuals with respect to civil
nuclear exports;
(iii) coordinate with the officials
described in paragraph (2) to ensure that
necessary framework agreements and trade
controls relating to civil nuclear materials
and technologies are in place for key markets;
and
(iv) develop--
(I) a whole-of-government
coordinating strategy for civil nuclear
cooperation;
(II) a whole-of-government strategy
for civil nuclear exports; and
(III) a whole-of-government
approach to support appropriate foreign
investment in civil nuclear energy
projects supported by the United States
in embarking civil nuclear nations.
(2) Officials described.--The officials referred to in
paragraph (1)(E) are--
(A) appropriate officials of any Federal agency
that the President determines to be appropriate; and
(B) appropriate officials representing foreign
countries and governments, including--
(i) ally or partner nations;
(ii) embarking civil nuclear nations; and
(iii) any other country or government that
the Assistant (if appointed) and the officials
described in subparagraph (A) jointly determine
to be appropriate.
(b) Nuclear Exports Working Group.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established a working group,
to be known as the ``Nuclear Exports Working Group'' (referred
to in this subsection as the ``working group'').
(2) Composition.--The working group shall be composed of--
(A) senior-level Federal officials, selected
internally by the applicable Federal agency or
organization, from any Federal agency or organization
that the President determines to be appropriate; and
(B) other senior-level Federal officials, selected
internally by the applicable Federal agency or
organization, from any other Federal agency or
organization that the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
(3) Reporting.--The working group shall report to the
appropriate White House official, which may be the Assistant
(if appointed).
(4) Duties.--The working group shall coordinate, not less
frequently than quarterly, with the Civil Nuclear Trade
Advisory Committee of the Department of Commerce, the Nuclear
Energy Advisory Committee of the Department of Energy, and
other advisory or stakeholder groups, as necessary, to maintain
an accurate and up-to-date knowledge of the standing of civil
nuclear exports from the United States, including with respect
to meeting the targets established as part of the 10-year civil
nuclear trade strategy described in paragraph (5)(A).
(5) Strategy.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the working group shall
establish a 10-year civil nuclear trade strategy,
including biennial targets for the export of civil
nuclear technologies, including light water and non-
light water reactors and associated equipment and
technologies, civil nuclear materials, and nuclear fuel
that align with meeting international energy demand
while seeking to avoid or reduce emissions.
(B) Collaboration required.--In establishing the
strategy under subparagraph (A), the working group
shall collaborate with--
(i) any Federal agency that the President
determines to be appropriate; and
(ii) representatives of private industry.
SEC. 4. ENGAGEMENT WITH ALLY OR PARTNER NATIONS.
(a) In General.--The President shall launch, in accordance with
applicable nuclear technology export laws (including regulations), an
international initiative to modernize the civil nuclear outreach to
embarking civil nuclear nations.
(b) Financing.--In carrying out the initiative described in
subsection (a), the President, acting through an appropriate Federal
official, who may be the Assistant (if appointed), if determined to be
appropriate, and in coordination with the officials described in
section 3(a)(2), may, if the President determines to be appropriate,
seek to establish cooperative financing relationships for the export of
civil nuclear technology, components, materials, and infrastructure to
embarking civil nuclear nations.
(c) Activities.--In carrying out the initiative described in
subsection (a), the President shall--
(1) assist nongovernmental organizations and appropriate
offices, administrations, agencies, laboratories, and programs
of the Department of Energy and other relevant Federal agencies
and offices in providing education and training to foreign
governments in nuclear safety, security, and safeguards--
(A) through engagement with the International
Atomic Energy Agency; or
(B) independently, if the applicable entity
determines that it would be more advantageous under the
circumstances to provide the applicable education and
training independently;
(2) assist the efforts of the International Atomic Energy
Agency to expand the support provided by the International
Atomic Energy Agency to embarking civil nuclear nations for
nuclear safety, security, and safeguards;
(3) coordinate with appropriate Federal departments and
agencies on efforts to expand outreach to the private
investment community and establish public-private financing
relationships that enable the adoption of civil nuclear
technologies by embarking civil nuclear nations, including
through exports from the United States;
(4) seek to better coordinate, to the maximum extent
practicable, the work carried out by any Federal agency that
the President determines to be appropriate; and
(5) coordinate with the Export-Import Bank of the United
States to improve the efficient and effective exporting and
importing of civil nuclear technologies and materials.
SEC. 5. COOPERATIVE FINANCING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALLY OR PARTNER
NATIONS AND EMBARKING CIVIL NUCLEAR NATIONS.
(a) In General.--The President shall designate an appropriate White
House official, who may be the Assistant (if appointed), to coordinate
with the officials described in section 3(a)(2) to develop, as the
President determines to be appropriate, financing relationships with
ally or partner nations to assist in the adoption of civil nuclear
technologies exported from the United States or ally or partner nations
to embarking civil nuclear nations.
(b) United States Competitiveness Clauses.--
(1) Definition of united states competitiveness clause.--In
this subsection, the term ``United States competitiveness
clause'' means any United States competitiveness provision in
any agreement entered into by the Department of Energy,
including--
(A) a cooperative agreement;
(B) a cooperative research and development
agreement; and
(C) a patent waiver.
(2) Consideration.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
relevant officials described in that subsection shall consider
the impact of United States competitiveness clauses on any
financing relationships entered into or proposed to be entered
into under that subsection.
(3) Waiver.--The Secretary shall facilitate waivers of
United States competitiveness clauses as necessary to
facilitate financing relationships with ally or partner nations
under subsection (a).
SEC. 6. COOPERATION WITH ALLY OR PARTNER NATIONS ON ADVANCED NUCLEAR
REACTOR DEMONSTRATION AND COOPERATIVE RESEARCH FACILITIES
FOR CIVIL NUCLEAR ENERGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary
and the Secretary of Commerce, shall conduct bilateral and multilateral
meetings with not fewer than 5 ally or partner nations, with the aim of
enhancing nuclear energy cooperation among those ally or partner
nations and the United States, for the purpose of developing
collaborative relationships with respect to research, development,
licensing, and deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technologies for
civil nuclear energy.
(b) Requirement.--The meetings described in subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) a focus on cooperation to demonstrate and deploy
advanced nuclear reactors, with an emphasis on U.S. nuclear
energy companies, during the 10-year period beginning on the
date of enactment of this Act to provide options for addressing
energy security and climate change; and
(2) a focus on developing a memorandum of understanding or
any other appropriate agreement between the United States and
ally or partner nations with respect to--
(A) the demonstration and deployment of advanced
nuclear reactors; and
(B) the development of cooperative research
facilities.
(c) Financing Arrangements.--In conducting the meetings described
in subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other relevant
Federal agencies and only after initial consultation with the
appropriate committees of Congress, shall seek to develop financing
arrangements to share the costs of the demonstration and deployment of
advanced nuclear reactors and the development of cooperative research
facilities with the ally or partner nations participating in those
meetings.
(d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of
Commerce shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress
a report highlighting potential partners--
(1) for the establishment of cost-share arrangements
described in subsection (c) and the details of those
arrangements; or
(2) with which the United States may enter into agreements
with respect to--
(A) the demonstration of advanced nuclear reactors;
or
(B) cooperative research facilities.
SEC. 7. INTERNATIONAL CIVIL NUCLEAR ENERGY COOPERATION.
Section 959B of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16279b) is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``The Secretary'' and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--The Secretary'';
(2) in subsection (a) (as so designated)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``financing,''; and
(ii) by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon at the end;
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``preparations for''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C)(v), by striking
the period at the end and inserting a
semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) to support, with the concurrence of the Secretary of
State, the safe, secure, and peaceful use of civil nuclear
technology in countries developing nuclear energy programs,
with a focus on countries that have increased civil nuclear
cooperation with the Russian Federation or the People's
Republic of China; and
``(4) to promote the fullest utilization of the reactors,
fuel, equipment, services, and technology of U.S. nuclear
energy companies (as defined in section 2 of the International
Nuclear Energy Act of 2025) in civil nuclear energy programs
outside the United States through--
``(A) bilateral and multilateral arrangements
developed and executed with the concurrence of the
Secretary of State that contain commitments for the
utilization of the reactors, fuel, equipment, services,
and technology of U.S. nuclear energy companies (as
defined in that section);
``(B) the designation of 1 or more U.S. nuclear
energy companies (as defined in that section) to
implement an arrangement under subparagraph (A) if the
Secretary determines that the designation is necessary
and appropriate to achieve the objectives of this
section; and
``(C) the waiver of any provision of law relating
to competition with respect to any activity related to
an arrangement under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary,
in consultation with the Attorney General and the
Secretary of Commerce, determines that a waiver is
necessary and appropriate to achieve the objectives of
this section.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Requirements.--The program under subsection (a) shall be
supported in consultation with the Secretary of State and implemented
by the Secretary--
``(1) to facilitate, to the maximum extent practicable,
workshops and expert-based exchanges to engage industry,
stakeholders, and foreign governments with respect to
international civil nuclear issues, such as--
``(A) training;
``(B) financing;
``(C) safety;
``(D) security;
``(E) safeguards;
``(F) liability;
``(G) advanced fuels;
``(H) operations; and
``(I) options for multinational cooperation with
respect to the disposal of spent nuclear fuel (as
defined in section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of
1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101)); and
``(2) in coordination with any Federal agency that the
President determines to be appropriate.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of funds appropriated or
otherwise made available to the Secretary to carry out the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) in fiscal years 2026
through 2030, the Secretary may use $15,500,000 to carry out this
section.''.
SEC. 8. INTERNATIONAL CIVIL NUCLEAR PROGRAM SUPPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary and the Assistant (if appointed), shall launch an
international initiative (referred to in this section as the
``initiative'') to provide financial assistance to, and facilitate the
building of technical capacities by, in accordance with this section,
embarking civil nuclear nations for activities relating to the
development of civil nuclear energy programs.
(b) Financial Assistance.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the initiative, the
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and the
Assistant (if appointed), is authorized to award grants of
financial assistance in amounts not greater than $5,500,000 to
embarking civil nuclear nations in accordance with this
subsection--
(A) for activities relating to the development of
civil nuclear energy programs; and
(B) to facilitate the building of technical
capacities for those activities.
(2) Limitations.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Secretary and the Assistant (if appointed), may
award--
(A) not more than 1 grant of financial assistance
under paragraph (1) to any 1 embarking civil nuclear
nation each fiscal year; and
(B) not more than a total of 5 grants of financial
assistance under paragraph (1) to any 1 embarking civil
nuclear nation.
(c) Senior Advisors.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the initiative, the
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and the
Assistant (if appointed), is authorized to provide financial
assistance to an embarking civil nuclear nation for the purpose
of contracting with a U.S. nuclear energy company to hire 1 or
more senior advisors to assist the embarking civil nuclear
nation in establishing a civil nuclear program.
(2) Requirement.--A senior advisor described in paragraph
(1) shall have relevant experience and qualifications to advise
the embarking civil nuclear nation on, and facilitate on behalf
of the embarking civil nuclear nation, 1 or more of the
following activities:
(A) The development of financing relationships.
(B) The development of a standardized financing and
project management framework for the construction of
nuclear power plants.
(C) The development of a standardized licensing
framework for--
(i) light water civil nuclear technologies;
and
(ii) non-light water civil nuclear
technologies and advanced nuclear reactors.
(D) The identification of qualified organizations
and service providers.
(E) The identification of funds to support payment
for services required to develop a civil nuclear
program.
(F) Market analysis.
(G) The identification of the safety, security,
safeguards, and nuclear governance required for a civil
nuclear program.
(H) Risk allocation, risk management, and nuclear
liability.
(I) Technical assessments of nuclear reactors and
technologies.
(J) The identification of actions necessary to
participate in a global nuclear liability regime based
on the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for
Nuclear Damage, with Annex, done at Vienna September
12, 1997 (TIAS 15-415).
(K) Stakeholder engagement.
(L) Management of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear
waste.
(M) Any other major activities to support the
establishment of a civil nuclear program, such as the
establishment of export, financing, construction,
training, operations, and education requirements.
(3) Clarification.--Financial assistance under this
subsection is authorized to be provided to an embarking civil
nuclear nation in addition to any financial assistance provided
to that embarking civil nuclear nation under subsection (b).
(d) Limitation on Assistance to Embarking Civil Nuclear Nations.--
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Offices of the Inspectors General for the Department of State and the
Department of Energy shall coordinate--
(1) to establish and submit to the appropriate committees
of Congress a joint strategic plan to conduct comprehensive
oversight of activities authorized under this section to
prevent fraud, waste, and abuse; and
(2) to engage in independent and effective oversight of
activities authorized under this section through joint or
individual audits, inspections, investigations, or evaluations.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of funds appropriated or
otherwise made available to the Secretary of State to carry out the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) in fiscal years
2026 through 2030, the Secretary of State may use $50,000,000 to carry
out this section.
SEC. 9. BIENNIAL CABINET-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR
SAFETY, SECURITY, SAFEGUARDS, AND SUSTAINABILITY.
(a) In General.--The President, in coordination with international
partners, as determined by the President, and industry, shall hold a
biennial conference on civil nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and
sustainability (referred to in this section as a ``conference'').
(b) Conference Functions.--It is the sense of Congress that each
conference should--
(1) be a forum in which ally or partner nations may engage
with each other for the purpose of reinforcing the commitment
to--
(A) nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and
sustainability;
(B) environmental safeguards; and
(C) local community engagement in areas in
reasonable proximity to nuclear sites; and
(2) facilitate--
(A) the development of--
(i) joint commitments and goals to
improve--
(I) nuclear safety, security,
safeguards, and sustainability;
(II) environmental safeguards; and
(III) local community engagement in
areas in reasonable proximity to
nuclear sites;
(ii) stronger international institutions
that support nuclear safety, security,
safeguards, and sustainability;
(iii) cooperative financing relationships
to promote competitive alternatives to Chinese
and Russian financing;
(iv) a standardized financing and project
management framework for the construction of
civil nuclear power plants;
(v) a standardized licensing framework for
civil nuclear technologies;
(vi) a strategy to change internal policies
of multinational development banks, such as the
World Bank, to support the financing of civil
nuclear projects;
(vii) a document containing any lessons
learned from countries that have partnered with
the Russian Federation or the People's Republic
of China with respect to civil nuclear power,
including any detrimental outcomes resulting
from that partnership; and
(viii) a global civil nuclear liability
regime;
(B) cooperation for enhancing the overall aspects
of civil nuclear power, such as--
(i) nuclear safety, security, safeguards,
and sustainability;
(ii) nuclear laws (including regulations);
(iii) waste management;
(iv) quality management systems;
(v) technology transfer;
(vi) human resources development;
(vii) localization;
(viii) reactor operations;
(ix) nuclear liability; and
(x) decommissioning; and
(C) the development and determination of the
mechanisms described in paragraphs (7) and (8) of
section 10(a), if the President intends to establish an
Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center as
described in that section.
(c) Input From Industry and Government.--It is the sense of
Congress that each conference should include a meeting that convenes
nuclear industry leaders and leaders of government agencies with
expertise relating to nuclear safety, security, safeguards, or
sustainability to discuss best practices relating to--
(1) the safe and secure use, storage, and transport of
nuclear and radiological materials;
(2) managing the evolving cyber threat to nuclear and
radiological security; and
(3) the role that the nuclear industry should play in
nuclear and radiological safety, security, and safeguards,
including with respect to the safe and secure use, storage, and
transport of nuclear and radiological materials, including
spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.
SEC. 10. ADVANCED REACTOR COORDINATION AND RESOURCE CENTER.
(a) In General.--The President shall consider the feasibility of
leveraging existing activities or frameworks or, as necessary,
establishing a center, to be known as the ``Advanced Reactor
Coordination and Resource Center'' (referred to in this section as the
``Center''), for the purposes of--
(1) identifying qualified organizations and service
providers--
(A) for embarking civil nuclear nations;
(B) to develop and assemble documents, contracts,
and related items required to establish a civil nuclear
program; and
(C) to develop a standardized model for the
establishment of a civil nuclear program that can be
used by the International Atomic Energy Agency;
(2) coordinating with countries participating in the Center
and with the Nuclear Exports Working Group established under
section 3(b)--
(A) to identify funds to support payment for
services required to develop a civil nuclear program;
(B) to provide market analysis; and
(C) to create--
(i) project structure models;
(ii) models for electricity market
analysis;
(iii) models for nonelectric applications
market analysis; and
(iv) financial models;
(3) identifying and developing the safety, security,
safeguards, and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear
program;
(4) supporting multinational regulatory standards to be
developed by countries with civil nuclear programs and
experience;
(5) developing and strengthening communications,
engagement, and consensus-building;
(6) carrying out any other major activities to support
export, financing, education, construction, training, and
education requirements relating to the establishment of a civil
nuclear program;
(7) developing mechanisms for how to fund and staff the
Center; and
(8) determining mechanisms for the selection of the
location or locations of the Center.
(b) Objective.--The President shall carry out subsection (a) with
the objective of establishing the Center if the President determines
that it is feasible to do so.
SEC. 11. STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE FUND WORKING GROUP.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a working group, to be
known as the ``Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group'' (referred
to in this section as the ``working group'') to provide input on the
feasibility of establishing a program to support strategically
important capital-intensive infrastructure projects.
(b) Composition.--The working group shall be--
(1) led by a White House official, who may be the Assistant
(if appointed), who shall serve as the White House focal point
with respect to matters relating to the working group; and
(2) composed of--
(A) senior-level Federal officials, selected by the
head of the applicable Federal agency or organization,
from any Federal agency or organization that the
President determines to be appropriate;
(B) other senior-level Federal officials, selected
by the head of the applicable Federal agency or
organization, from any other Federal agency or
organization that the Secretary determines to be
appropriate; and
(C) any senior-level Federal official selected by
the White House official described in paragraph (1)
from any Federal agency or organization.
(c) Reporting.--The working group shall report to the National
Security Council.
(d) Duties.--The working group shall--
(1) provide direction and advice to the officials described
in section 3(a)(2)(A) and appropriate Federal agencies, as
determined by the working group, with respect to the
establishment of a Strategic Infrastructure Fund (referred to
in this subsection as the ``Fund'') to be used--
(A) to support those aspects of projects relating
to--
(i) civil nuclear technologies; and
(ii) microprocessors; and
(B) for strategic investments identified by the
working group; and
(2) address critical areas in determining the appropriate
design for the Fund, including--
(A) transfer of assets to the Fund;
(B) transfer of assets from the Fund;
(C) how assets in the Fund should be invested; and
(D) governance and implementation of the Fund.
(e) Briefing and Report Required.--
(1) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the working group shall brief the
committees described in paragraph (3) on the status of the
development of the processes necessary to implement this
section.
(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the working group shall submit to the
committees described in paragraph (3) a report on the findings
of the working group that includes suggested legislative text
for how to establish and structure a Strategic Infrastructure
Fund.
(3) Committees described.--The committees referred to in
paragraphs (1) and (2) are--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the
Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources, the Committee on Environment and
Public Works, the Committee on Finance, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee
on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Armed
Services, the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(4) Administration of the fund.--The report submitted under
paragraph (2) shall include suggested legislative language
requiring all expenditures from a Strategic Infrastructure Fund
established in accordance with this section to be administered
by the Secretary of State (or a designee of the Secretary of
State).
SEC. 12. JOINT ASSESSMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA ON
NUCLEAR LIABILITY RULES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with the
heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall
establish and maintain within the U.S.-India Strategic Security
Dialogue a joint consultative mechanism with the Government of the
Republic of India that convenes on a recurring basis--
(1) to assess the implementation of the Agreement for
Cooperation between the Government of the United States of
America and the Government of India Concerning Peaceful Uses of
Nuclear Energy, signed at Washington October 10, 2008 (TIAS 08-
1206);
(2) to discuss opportunities for the Republic of India to
align domestic nuclear liability rules with international
norms; and
(3) to develop a strategy for the United States and the
Republic of India to pursue bilateral and multilateral
diplomatic engagements related to analyzing and implementing
those opportunities.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the
Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other relevant
Federal departments and agencies, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report that describes the joint assessment
developed pursuant to subsection (a)(1).
SEC. 13. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Except as expressly stated in this Act, nothing in this Act may be
construed to alter or otherwise affect the interpretation or
implementation of section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42
U.S.C. 2153) or any other provision of law, including the requirement
that agreements pursuant to that section be submitted to Congress for
consideration.
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