S. 1801

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

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 · Sponsor: Mr. Risch · Committee: Committee on Foreign Relations

S. 1801

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Definitions

In this Act:
- The term advanced nuclear reactor means—
- The term ally or partner nation means—
- The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
- The term Assistant means the Assistant to the President and Director for International Nuclear Energy Export Policy described in section 3(a)(1)(D).
- The term associated entity means an entity that—
- The term associated individual means a foreign national who is a national of a country described in paragraph (2).
- The term civil nuclear means activities relating to—
- 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).
- The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.
- 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
- The term U.S. nuclear energy company means a company that—

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—
    - 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;
    - to provide that focal point, the President should designate, within the National Energy Dominance Council, an office, to be known as the (referred to in this subsection as the ); Office of the Assistant to the President and Director for International Nuclear Energy Export Policy Office
    - the Office should act as a coordinating office for—
      - (i) international civil nuclear cooperation; and
      - (ii) civil nuclear export strategy;
    - the Office should be headed by an individual appointed as an Assistant to the President with the title of who is also a member of the National Energy Dominance Council; and Director for International Nuclear Energy Export Policy
    - 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—
      - a whole-of-government coordinating strategy for civil nuclear cooperation;
      - a whole-of-government strategy for civil nuclear exports; and
      - 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—
    - appropriate officials of any Federal agency that the President determines to be appropriate; and
    - 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 (referred to in this subsection as the ). Nuclear Exports Working Group working group
- (2) Composition
  - The working group shall be composed of—
    - 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
    - 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—
  - 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—
    - through engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency; or
    - independently, if the applicable entity determines that it would be more advantageous under the circumstances to provide the applicable education and training independently;
  - 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;
  - 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;
  - 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
  - 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 cooperative agreement;
    - a cooperative research and development agreement; and
    - 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—
  - 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
  - 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—
    - the demonstration and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors; and
    - 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—
  - for the establishment of cost-share arrangements described in subsection (c) and the details of those arrangements; or
  - with which the United States may enter into agreements with respect to—
    - the demonstration of advanced nuclear reactors; or
    - cooperative research facilities.

SEC. 7. International civil nuclear energy cooperation

Section 959B of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 16279b
- in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking and inserting the following:
  - (a) In general
    - The Secretary
- in subsection (a) (as so designated)—
  - in paragraph (1)—
    - (i) by striking ; and
    - (ii) by striking after the semicolon at the end;
  - in paragraph (2)—
    - (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ; and
    - (ii) in subparagraph (C)(v), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
      - 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
      - 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 ) in civil nuclear energy programs outside the United States through—
        
        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);
        
        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
        
        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.
  - 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—
      - 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—
        
        training;
        
        financing;
        
        safety;
        
        security;
        
        safeguards;
        
        liability;
        
        advanced fuels;
        
        operations; and
        
        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 ()); and 42 U.S.C. 10101
      - 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 () in fiscal years 2026 through 2030, the Secretary may use $15,500,000 to carry out this section. 22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.
- by adding at the end the following:

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 ) 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. initiative
(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—
    - for activities relating to the development of civil nuclear energy programs; and
    - 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—
    - not more than 1 grant of financial assistance under paragraph (1) to any 1 embarking civil nuclear nation each fiscal year; and
    - 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:
    - The development of financing relationships.
    - The development of a standardized financing and project management framework for the construction of nuclear power plants.
    - 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.
    - The identification of qualified organizations and service providers.
    - The identification of funds to support payment for services required to develop a civil nuclear program.
    - Market analysis.
    - The identification of the safety, security, safeguards, and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear program.
    - Risk allocation, risk management, and nuclear liability.
    - Technical assessments of nuclear reactors and technologies.
    - 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).
    - Stakeholder engagement.
    - Management of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.
    - 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—
  - 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
  - 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 () in fiscal years 2026 through 2030, the Secretary of State may use $50,000,000 to carry out this section. 22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.

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—
  - be a forum in which ally or partner nations may engage with each other for the purpose of reinforcing the commitment to—
    - nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability;
    - environmental safeguards; and
    - local community engagement in areas in reasonable proximity to nuclear sites; and
  - facilitate—
    - the development of—
      - (i) joint commitments and goals to improve—
      - nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability;
      - environmental safeguards; and
      - 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;
    - 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
    - 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—
  - the safe and secure use, storage, and transport of nuclear and radiological materials;
  - managing the evolving cyber threat to nuclear and radiological security; and
  - 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 (referred to in this section as the ), for the purposes of— Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center Center
  - identifying qualified organizations and service providers—
    - for embarking civil nuclear nations;
    - to develop and assemble documents, contracts, and related items required to establish a civil nuclear program; and
    - to develop a standardized model for the establishment of a civil nuclear program that can be used by the International Atomic Energy Agency;
  - coordinating with countries participating in the Center and with the Nuclear Exports Working Group established under section 3(b)—
    - to identify funds to support payment for services required to develop a civil nuclear program;
    - to provide market analysis; and
    - to create—
      - (i) project structure models;
      - (ii) models for electricity market analysis;
      - (iii) models for nonelectric applications market analysis; and
      - (iv) financial models;
  - identifying and developing the safety, security, safeguards, and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear program;
  - supporting multinational regulatory standards to be developed by countries with civil nuclear programs and experience;
  - developing and strengthening communications, engagement, and consensus-building;
  - 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;
  - developing mechanisms for how to fund and staff the Center; and
  - 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 (referred to in this section as the ) to provide input on the feasibility of establishing a program to support strategically important capital-intensive infrastructure projects. Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group working group
(b) Composition
- The working group shall be—
  - 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
  - composed of—
    - 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;
    - 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
    - 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—
  - 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 ) to be used— Fund
    - to support those aspects of projects relating to—
      - (i) civil nuclear technologies; and
      - (ii) microprocessors; and
    - for strategic investments identified by the working group; and
  - address critical areas in determining the appropriate design for the Fund, including—
    - transfer of assets to the Fund;
    - transfer of assets from the Fund;
    - how assets in the Fund should be invested; and
    - 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.
  - Briefing
- (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—
    - 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
    - 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—
  - 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);
  - to discuss opportunities for the Republic of India to align domestic nuclear liability rules with international norms; and
  - 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 () or any other provision of law, including the requirement that agreements pursuant to that section be submitted to Congress for consideration. 42 U.S.C. 2153