WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee member, issued the following statement on the EPW Committee approving the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020:

“The United States is a world leader in nuclear energy, but we have let our production and expertise slip to unacceptable levels. Nuclear power is a safe, reliable, emissions-free source of energy essential to America’s energy dominance. I applaud Chairman Barrasso for recognizing this and leading bipartisan legislation to support our nuclear power generators, shore up our supply chains, and export American excellence to the world. I urge my colleagues to support it and help it become law.”

If it is passed and signed into law, the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act (ANIA) would:

  • Reestablish American International Competitiveness and Global Leadership;
    • ANIA empowers the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to lead in international forums to develop regulations for advanced nuclear reactor designs.
    • ANIA provides the NRC authority to deny imports of Russian and Chinese nuclear fuel on national security grounds.
  • Expand Nuclear Energy Through Advanced Nuclear Technologies;
    • ANIA makes the permitting process for advanced nuclear more predictable and efficient.
    • ANIA creates a prize to incentivize the successful deployment of next generation nuclear reactor technologies.
    • ANIA requires the NRC to identify and update regulatory barriers to enable advanced nuclear technologies to reduce industrial emissions.
  • Preserve Existing Nuclear Energy.
    • ANIA authorizes a targeted credit program to preserve nuclear reactors that could prematurely shut down.
    • ANIA modernizes outdated rules that restrict investment in nuclear energy.
  • Revitalize America’s Nuclear Supply Chain Infrastructure; and
    • ANIA helps develop the advanced nuclear fuels needed to power 21st century nuclear reactor designs.
    • ANIA authorizes a uranium reserve to ensure America does not lose the capacity to fuel its nuclear reactors with American fuel.
    • ANIA identifies modern manufacturing techniques to build nuclear reactors better, faster, cheaper, and smarter.
  • Authorize funds for Environmental Cleanup Programs.
    • ANIA authorizes funding to assist in cleaning up legacy abandoned mining sites on tribal land.

Learn more here.

Last year, Senator Cramer introduced legislation similar to parts of the ANIA entitled the Nuclear Powers America Act, a bipartisan bill to provide existing nuclear power plants with an investment tax credit. If passed, ANIA will establish a credit for domestic nuclear generators to prevent future decommissioning and increased emissions. In August, during a hearing on the ANIA, Senator Cramer discussed the importance of bolstering nuclear production, highlighting the decline of America’s nuclear energy industry and urging his colleagues to help find ways to reverse that decline.