WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) applauded the unanimous passage of their bill H.R. 1042.
H.R. 1042 is Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ (R-Wash.) companion bill to S.763, which was sponsored by Senators Risch and Barrasso. This bipartisan legislation bans imports of Russian uranium to the United States. In December of 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1042 by voice vote.
“America’s dangerous reliance on Russian enriched uranium must come to an end—our national security depends on it,” said Risch. “With the passage of our legislation, America is taking an important step to spur uranium conversion and enrichment in the U.S., support advanced nuclear development and energy independence, and end Russian control of the global nuclear fuel supply chain.”
“I have fought for years to end America’s reliance on Russian nuclear fuel. Our efforts have finally paid off with passage of our bill to ban these imports once and for all,” said Barrasso. “Wyoming has the uranium to replace Russian imports, and we’re ready to use it. Our bipartisan legislation will help defund Russia’s war machine, revive American uranium production, and jumpstart investments in America’s nuclear fuel supply chain. This is a tremendous victory. I’m grateful to members of both parties for helping get this over the finish line.”
Background Information:
On March 9, 2023, Risch and Barrasso introduced S. 763. U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) cosponsored their legislation.
On May 17, 2023, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources adopted S.763 as an amendment to S. 452, the Nuclear Fuel Security Act of 2023, and then ordered, by voice vote, the measure to be reported to the full Senate.
On December 11, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed by voice vote H.R.1042, companion legislation to S. 763, a bipartisan bill introduced by Risch and Barrasso to prohibit U.S. imports of Russian uranium.
H.R. 1042 serves as a compliment to the Nuclear Fuel Security Act, which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024.?
