Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Establish Strategic Uranium Reserve, Increase Domestic Production

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) in introducing the National Opportunity to Restore Uranium Supply Services In America (NO RUSSIA) Act of 2022. This legislation authorizes the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a national strategic uranium reserve.

“Uranium is a critical piece to our energy security, national security, and grid reliability. Establishing a national strategic uranium reserve, made up of American produced and processed uranium would reduce our reliance on Russia and other adversaries and support domestic energy production,” said Senator Cramer.  

“Having access to American produced uranium is critical to both our energy and national security,” said Senator Barrasso. “We cannot be reliant on our adversaries for fuel we have here at home. My legislation will jumpstart America’s nuclear fuel supply chain. It will increase demand for Wyoming uranium and ensure America will always have the fuel it needs to power our nuclear reactors.” 

This bill would increase domestic uranium production, conversion, and enrichment to ensure existing U.S. nuclear reactors have sufficient fuel to continue operating. 

Senators Cramer and Barrasso are joined by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) as co-sponsors. 

Click here for bill text. 

Background:

Last month, Senators Cramer and Barrasso also introduced a bill to ban imports of Russian uranium.

In May 2020, Senators Cramer and Barrasso sent a letter to Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Kessler calling on the department to extend the Russian Suspension Agreement (RSA), as recommended by the Nuclear Fuel Working Group.

In August 2020, Senator Cramer stressed the importance of American leadership in nuclear energy development and innovation during a Senate EPW Committee hearing. Senator Cramer questioned witnesses about the importance of maintaining America’s uranium reserves and the threat of competition from other enterprises owned by foreign adversaries. He also spoke about the nuclear energy supply chain and the significance of American-produced uranium. 

In September 2020, Senators Cramer and Barrasso introduced the Russian Suspension Agreement Extension Act of 2020, bipartisan legislation to extend and expand limits on Russian uranium imports. That same month Senator Cramer applauded the Trump Department of Commerce’s preliminary deal to limit Russian uranium imports through 2040.