§ 16283. International nuclear energy

§ 16283. International nuclear energy

(a) Short title This section may be cited as the “International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025”.

(b) Definitions In this section:

(1) Advanced nuclear reactor The term “advanced nuclear reactor” has the meaning given the term in section 16271(b) of this title, except that, for purposes of this section, the reference to “reactors operating on December 27, 2020” in paragraph (1)(A) of that section shall be deemed to read “reactors operating in the United States on December 27, 2020”.

(2) Ally or partner nation The term “ally or partner nation” means—

(A) the Government of any country that is a member of the Organization 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 section.

(3) Appropriate committees of Congress The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—

(A) the Committees on Foreign Relations, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

(B) the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Science, Space, and Technology, and Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

(4) 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.

(5) Associated individual The term “associated individual” means a foreign national who is a national of a country described in paragraph (2).

(6) Civil nuclear The term “civil nuclear” means activities, other than atomic energy defense 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).

(7) 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) nuclear reactor licensing;

(iii) is in the process of selecting, developing, constructing, or utilizing nuclear reactors, including 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) Burma; or

(ix) 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 2371(a) of title 22;

(bb) section 2780(d) of title 22;

(cc) section 4813(c)(1)(A)(i) of title 50; or

(dd) any other relevant provision of law.

(8) Secretary The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Energy.

(9) Spent nuclear fuel The term “spent nuclear fuel” has the meaning given the term in section 10101 of this title.

(10) United States nuclear energy company The term “United States 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.

(c) 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 President or 1 or more Federal officials designated by the President, if applicable.

(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 December 18, 2025, 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 and prevent the dissemination of nuclear technology, materials, and weapons to adversarial nations and terrorist groups.

(B) Collaboration required In establishing the strategy under subparagraph (A), the working group shall collaborate with—

(i) any Federal department or agency that the President determines to be appropriate; and

(ii) representatives of private industry and experts in nuclear security and risk reduction, as appropriate.

(d) Engagement with ally or partner nations

(1) 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.

(2) Financing

(A) In general In carrying out the initiative described in paragraph (1), the President, acting through an appropriate Federal official, and in coordination with the officials described in subparagraph (B), 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.

(B) Officials described The officials referred to in subparagraph (A) are—

(i) appropriate officials of any Federal agency that the President determines to be appropriate; and

(ii) 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 President, in consultation with the officials described in clause (i), determines to be appropriate.

(3) Activities In carrying out the initiative described in paragraph (1), the President shall—

(A) assist nongovernmental organizations, the Department of Energy, and other relevant Federal departments and agencies in the provision of education and training to foreign governments in nuclear safety, security, and safeguards—

(i) through engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency; or

(ii) independently, if the applicable entity determines that it would be more advantageous under the circumstances to provide the applicable education and training independently;

(B) 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;

(C) 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;

(D) 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

(E) coordinate with the Export-Import Bank of the United States to improve the efficient and effective exporting of civil nuclear technologies and materials.

(e) Cooperative financing relationships with ally or partner nations and embarking civil nuclear nations

(1) In general The President shall designate an appropriate White House official to coordinate with the officials described in subsection (d)(2)(B) 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.

(2) United States competitiveness clauses

(A) Definition of United States competitiveness clause In this paragraph, the term “United States competitiveness clause” means any United States competitiveness provision in any agreement entered into by the Department of Energy, including—

(i) a cooperative agreement;

(ii) a cooperative research and development agreement; and

(iii) a patent waiver.

(B) Consideration In carrying out paragraph (1), the relevant officials described in that paragraph shall consider the impact of United States competitiveness clauses on any financing relationships entered into or proposed to be entered into under that paragraph.

(C) Waiver The Secretary shall facilitate waivers of United States competitiveness clauses as necessary to facilitate financing relationships with ally or partner nations under paragraph (1).

(f) Cooperation with ally or partner nations on advanced nuclear reactor demonstration and cooperative research facilities for civil nuclear energy

(1) In general Not later than 2 years after December 18, 2025, 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.

(2) Requirement The meetings described in paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) a focus on cooperation to demonstrate and deploy advanced nuclear reactors, with an emphasis on United States nuclear energy companies, during the 10-year period beginning on December 18, 2025 to provide options for addressing energy security and environmental impacts; and

(B) 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—

(i) the demonstration and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors; and

(ii) the development of cooperative research facilities.

(3) Financing arrangements In conducting the meetings described in paragraph (1), 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.

(g) Omitted

(h) International civil nuclear program support

(1) In general Not later than 120 days after December 18, 2025, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and 1 or more other Federal officials designated by the President, if applicable, shall launch an international initiative (referred to in this subsection as the “initiative”) to provide financial assistance to, and facilitate the building of technical capacities by, in accordance with this subsection, embarking civil nuclear nations for activities relating to the development of civil nuclear energy programs.

(2) Financial assistance

(A) In general In carrying out the initiative, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and 1 or more other Federal officials designated by the President, if applicable, 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 paragraph—

(i) for activities relating to the development of civil nuclear energy programs; and

(ii) to facilitate the building of technical capacities for those activities.

(B) Limitations The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and 1 or more other Federal officials designated by the President, if applicable, may award—

(i) not more than 1 grant of financial assistance under subparagraph (A) to any 1 embarking civil nuclear nation each fiscal year; and

(ii) not more than a total of 5 grants of financial assistance under subparagraph (A) to any 1 embarking civil nuclear nation.

(3) Senior advisors

(A) In general In carrying out the initiative, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and 1 or more other Federal officials designated by the President, if applicable, is authorized to provide financial assistance to an embarking civil nuclear nation for the purpose of contracting with a United States nuclear energy company to hire 1 or more senior advisors to assist the embarking civil nuclear nation in establishing a civil nuclear program.

(B) Requirement A senior advisor described in subparagraph (A) 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:

(i) The development of financing relationships.

(ii) The development of a standardized financing and project management framework for the construction of nuclear power plants.

(iii) 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.

(iv) The identification of qualified organizations and service providers.

(v) The identification of funds to support payment for services required to develop a civil nuclear program.

(vi) Market analysis.

(vii) The identification of the safety, security, safeguards, and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear program.

(viii) Risk allocation, risk management, and nuclear liability.

(ix) Technical assessments of nuclear reactors and technologies.

(x) 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).

(xi) Stakeholder engagement.

(xii) Management of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.

(xiii) 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.

(C) Clarification Financial assistance under this paragraph 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 paragraph (2).

(4) Limitation on assistance to embarking civil nuclear nations Not later than 1 year after December 18, 2025, the Offices of the Inspectors General for the Department of State and the Department of Energy shall coordinate—

(A) to establish and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a joint strategic plan to conduct comprehensive oversight of activities authorized under this subsection to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse; and

(B) to engage in independent and effective oversight of activities authorized under this subsection through joint or individual audits, inspections, investigations, or evaluations.

(5) Authorization of appropriations Of funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out international civil nuclear energy cooperation, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 up to $50,000,000 to carry out this subsection.

(i) Biennial cabinet-level international conference on nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability

(1) 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 subsection as a “conference”).

(2) Conference functions It is the sense of Congress that each conference should—

(A) be a forum in which ally or partner nations may engage with each other for the purpose of reinforcing the commitment to—

(i) nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability;

(ii) nonproliferation and environmental safeguards; and

(iii) local community engagement in areas in reasonable proximity to nuclear sites;

(B) facilitate—

(i) the development of—

(I) joint commitments and goals to improve—

(aa) nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability;

(bb) environmental safeguards; and

(cc) local community engagement in areas in reasonable proximity to nuclear sites;