,i #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #djhd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #ai1 #bjae ,mr4 ,weber of ,texas 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,eddie ,bernice ,johnson of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,smith of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,lipinski1 ,mr4 ,loudermilk1 ,mr4 ,perlmutter1 ,mrs4 ,comstock1 ,mr4 ,tonko1 ,mr4 ,bridenstine1 ,mr4 ,rohrabacher1 ,mr4 ,hultgren1 ,mr4 ,westerman1 ,mr4 ,schweikert1 ,mr4 ,babin1 ,mr4 ,culberson1 ,mr4 ,brady of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,sessions1 ,mr4 ,carter of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,conaway1 ,mr4 ,marchant1 and ,mr4 ,farenthold7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology ,a ,,bill ,to enable civilian research and development of advanced nuclear energy technologies by private and public institutions and to expand theoretical and practical knowledge of nuclear physics1 chemistry1 and materials science4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,nuclear ,energy ,innovation ,capabilities ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,advanced fission reactor ,the term advanced fission reactor means a nuclear fission reactor with significant improvements over the most recent generation of nuclear reactors1 which may include inherent safety features1 lower waste yields1 greater fuel utilization1 superior reliability1 resistance to proliferation1 and increased thermal efficiency4 7#b7 ,department ,the term ,department means the ,department of ,energy4 7#c7 ,fast neutron ,the term fast neutron means a neutron with kinetic energy above #ajj kiloelectron volts4 7#d7 ,national laboratory ,the term ,national ,laboratory has the meaning given that term in paragraph 7#c7 of section #b of the ,energy ,policy ,act of #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aehja7c771 except that with respect to subparagraphs 7,g71 7,h71 and 7,n7 of such paragraph1 for purposes of this ,act the term includes only the civilian activities thereof4 7#e7 ,neutron flux ,the term neutron flux means the intensity of neutron radiation measured as a rate of flow of neutrons applied over an area4 7#f7 ,neutron source ,the term neutron source means a research machine that provides neutron irradiation services for research on materials sciences and nuclear physics as well as testing of advanced materials1 nuclear fuels1 and other related components for reactor systems4 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 #c4 ,mission ,section #iea7;a7 of the ,energy ,policy ,act of #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #afbga7;a77 is amended to read as follows3 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall conduct programs of civilian nuclear research1 development1 demonstration1 and commercial application1 including activities in this subtitle4 ,such programs shall take into consideration the following objectives3 7#a7 ,providing research infrastructure to promote scientific progress and enable users from academia1 the ,national ,laboratories1 and the private sector to make scientific discoveries relevant for nuclear1 chemical1 and materials science engineering4 7#b7 ,maintaining ,national ,laboratory and university nuclear energy research and development programs1 including their infrastructure4 7#c7 ,providing the technical means to reduce the likelihood of nuclear weapons proliferation and increasing confidence margins for public safety of nuclear energy systems4 7#d7 ,reducing the environmental impact of nuclear energy related activities4 7#e7 ,supporting technology transfer from the ,national ,laboratories to the private sector4 7#f7 ,enabling the private sector to partner with the ,national ,laboratories to demonstrate novel reactor concepts for the purpose of resolving technical uncertainty associated with the aforementioned objectives in this section4 4 #d4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of the ,congress that nuclear energy1 through fission or fusion1 represents the highest energy density of any known attainable source and yields zero air emissions4 ,this energy source is of national importance to scientific progress1 national security1 electricity generation1 heat generation for industrial applications1 and space exploration4 ,considering the inherent complexity and regulatory burden associated with this area of science1 the ,department should focus its civilian nuclear research and development activities towards programs that enable the private sector1 ,national ,laboratories1 and universities to carry out such experiments as are necessary to promote scientific progress and enhance practical knowledge of nuclear engineering4 #e4 ,high-performance computation and supportive research 7a7 ,modeling and simulation ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program to enhance the ,nation's capabilities to develop new reactor technologies through high-performance computation modeling and simulation techniques4 ,this program shall coordinate with relevant ,federal agencies through the ,national ,strategic ,computing ,initiative created under ,executive ,order #acgjb 7,july #bi1 #bjae7 while taking into account the following objectives3 7#a7 ,utilizing expertise from the private sector1 universities1 and ,national ,laboratories to develop computational software and capabilities that prospective users may access to accelerate research and development of advanced fission reactor systems1 nuclear fusion systems1 and reactor systems for space exploration4 7#b7 ,developing computational tools to simulate and predict nuclear phenomena that may be validated through physical experimentation4 7#c7 ,increasing the utility of the ,department's research infrastructure by coordinating with the ,advanced ,scientific ,computing ,research program within the ,office of ,science4 7#d7 ,leveraging experience from the ,energy ,innovation ,hub for ,modeling and ,simulation4 7#e7 ,ensuring that new experimental and computational tools are accessible to relevant research communities4 7b7 ,supportive research activities ,the ,secretary shall consider support for additional research activities to maximize the utility of its research facilities1 including physical processes to simulate degradation of materials and behavior of fuel forms and for validation of computational tools4 #f4 ,versatile neutron source 7a7 ,mission need ,not later than ,december #ca1 #bjaf1 the ,secretary shall determine the mission need for a versatile reactor-based fast neutron source1 which shall operate as a national user facility4 ,during this process1 the ,secretary shall consult with the private sector1 universities1 ,national ,laboratories1 and relevant ,federal agencies to ensure that this user facility will meet the research needs of the largest possible majority of prospective users4 7b7 ,establishment ,upon the determination of mission need made under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall1 as expeditiously as possible1 provide to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate a detailed plan for the establishment of the user facility4 7c7 ,facility requirements 7#a7 ,capabilities ,the ,secretary shall ensure that this user facility will provide1 at a minimum1 the following capabilities3 7,a7 ,fast neutron spectrum irradiation capability4 7,b7 ,capacity for upgrades to accommodate new or expanded research needs4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in carrying out the plan provided under subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall consider the following3 7,a7 ,capabilities that support experimental high-temperature testing4 7,b7 ,providing a source of fast neutrons at a neutron flux1 higher than that at which current research facilities operate1 sufficient to enable research for an optimal base of prospective users4 7,c7 ,maximizing irradiation flexibility and irradiation volume to accommodate as many concurrent users as possible4 7,d7 ,capabilities for irradiation with neutrons of a lower energy spectrum4 7,e7 ,multiple loops for fuels and materials testing in different coolants4 7,f7 ,additional pre-irradiation and post-irradiation examination capabilities4 7d7 ,reporting progress ,the ,department shall1 in its annual budget requests1 provide an explanation for any delay in its progress and otherwise make every effort to complete construction and approve the start of operations for this facility by ,december #ca1 #bjbe4 7e7 ,coordination ,the ,secretary shall leverage the best practices for management1 construction1 and operation of national user facilities from the ,office of ,science4 #g4 ,enabling nuclear energy innovation 7a7 ,national reactor innovation center ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program to enable the testing and demonstration of reactor concepts to be proposed and funded by the private sector4 ,the ,secretary shall leverage the technical expertise of relevant ,federal agencies and ,national ,laboratories in order to minimize the time required to enable construction and operation of privately funded experimental reactors at ,national ,laboratories or other ,department-owned sites while ensuring reasonable safety for persons working within these sites4 ,such reactors shall operate to meet the following objectives3 7#a7 ,enabling physical validation of novel reactor concepts4 7#b7 ,resolving technical uncertainty and increasing practical knowledge relevant to safety1 resilience1 security1 and functionality of first-of-a-kind reactor concepts4 7#c7 ,general research and development to improve nascent technologies4 7b7 ,reporting requirement ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,national ,laboratories1 relevant ,federal agencies1 and other stakeholders1 shall transmit to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate a report assessing the ,department's capabilities to authorize1 host1 and oversee privately funded fusion and advanced fission experimental reactors as described under subsection 7a74 ,the report shall address the following3 7#a7 ,the ,department's safety review and oversight capabilities1 including options to leverage expertise from the ,nuclear ,regulatory ,commission and ,national ,laboratories4 7#b7 ,potential sites capable of hosting activities described under subsection 7a74 7#c7 ,the efficacy of the ,department's available contractual mechanisms to partner with the private sector and ,federal agencies1 including cooperative research and development agreements1 strategic partnership projects1 and agreements for commercializing technology4 7#d7 ,potential cost structures related to physical security1 decommissioning1 liability1 and other long-term project costs4 7#e7 ,other challenges or considerations identified by the ,secretary4 #h4 ,budget plan ,not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,department shall transmit to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate #c alternative #aj-year budget plans for civilian nuclear energy research and development by the ,department4 ,the first shall assume constant annual funding for #aj years at the appropriated level for the ,department's civilian nuclear energy research and development for fiscal year #bjaf4 ,the second shall assume #b percent annual increases to the appropriated level for the ,department's nuclear energy research and development for fiscal year #bjaf4 ,the third shall be an unconstrained budget4 ,the #c plans shall include-- 7#a7 a prioritized list of the ,department's programs1 projects1 and activities to best support the development of next generation nuclear energy technology2 7#b7 realistic budget requirements for the ,department to implement sections #e1 #f1 and #g of this ,act2 and 7#c7 the ,department's justification for continuing or terminating existing civilian nuclear energy research and development programs4