WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the International Nuclear Energy Act (INEA). This bipartisan legislation aims to support the U.S. domestic nuclear energy industry’s leadership and offset China and Russia’s growing influence on international nuclear energy development.

“The research being done at the Idaho National Lab gives Idaho, and the U.S. as a whole, tremendous potential to export nuclear energy throughout the globe,” said Senator Risch. “If the U.S. doesn’t lead on nuclear energy development, Russia and China will. The International Nuclear Energy Act will help our domestic industry export advanced nuclear technologies to help our allies and advance our ability to be the global nuclear energy leader.”

“The United States of America, the world’s superpower, cannot afford to sit back and allow China and Russia to continue their dominance over the world’s nuclear energy supply chain. This bipartisan legislation recognizes that it is past time for the U.S. and our allies to work together to promote a strategy for civil nuclear exports that helps offset China and Russia’s influence while enhancing our energy security. The U.S., our friends, and allies are more than capable of working together on this issue, and I look forward to working with Senator Risch to ensure that this vital legislation becomes law,” said Chairman Manchin.

The International Nuclear Energy Act is supported by various stakeholders:

“As the former head of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, I know firsthand how important it is to focus the full impact of U.S. intergovernmental support for our nuclear technology providers to effectively compete with other countries’ state-owned enterprises that do not adhere to OECD rules. On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council, I commend Senators Manchin and Risch for today reintroducing the International Nuclear Energy Act, which would put the U.S. nuclear industry in a better position to compete across the globe,” said Todd Abrajano, President and CEO, United States Nuclear Industry Council.

“The ongoing atrocities taking place in Ukraine have underscored the vital importance of energy security at home and around the globe. Governments around the world are recognizing the vital role nuclear carbon-free energy will play in achieving not only climate goals but allowing for greater energy and national security. We have already seen countries throughout Europe take steps to extend or grow their commercial nuclear generation. The International Nuclear Energy Act includes important provisions that will facilitate the deployment of U.S. nuclear energy technologies to partner nations, generating American jobs and extending U.S. influence in nuclear safety, nonproliferation and security. We commend Senators Manchin and Risch for advancing legislation that will help maintain U.S. global leadership in commercial nuclear technology,” said Maria Korsnick, President and CEO, Nuclear Energy Institute.

The International Nuclear Energy Act would:

• Support the establishment of an office to coordinate civil nuclear exports strategy; establish financing relationships; promote regulatory harmonization; enhance safeguards and security; promote standardization of licensing framework; and create a nuclear exports working group.
• Create programs to facilitate international nuclear energy cooperation to develop financing relationships, training, education, market analysis, safety, security, safeguards and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear program.
• Require a cabinet-level biennial summit focused on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards, and to enhance cooperative relationships between private industry and government.
• Establish a Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group to determine how to best structure a Fund to finance projects critical to national security.

Full text of the International Nuclear Energy Act can be found here.

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