Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Green. I have had the pleasure of serving with Mr. Green for about 12 years now, and he has been an incredible colleague. One thing I can say about Mr. Green: He is good for his word. When he says he is going to provide something and produce something, he does. So I appreciate the gentleman's friendship and collegiality.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 6140, the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act. Every day, we are seeing the devastating effects of climate change, like the deadly wildfires we just had in California; severe flooding around the world; and our Nation's persistent asthma rates, which continue to threaten public health.

The Federal Government has the responsibility to address climate change by investing in proactive measures to combat this prevailing threat. We need a diverse--and I repeat, diverse--energy mix, including nuclear power, which already generates 60 percent of our Nation's zero- emissions electricity.

H.R. 6140 is the future of nuclear technology. It creates a pathway for tomorrow's nuclear reactors so that we will be able to confront the realities of climate change.

This bill directs the Department of Energy to conduct studies, authorizes the Department of Energy to acquire materials, and requires the DOE to develop a schedule to recover these costs.

The availability of high-assay low-enriched uranium is critical to these efforts. Federal investments and protocols regarding the transportation, fuel fabrication, and enrichment to effectively bring this fuel to market are encouraging.

This bill updates the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's policies and addresses the development of a robust regulatory regime, the options for requiring this type of uranium, and the preparation of the infrastructure required for this fuel.

As we look to the future, small modular reactors, or SMRs, as they are referred to, will be useful in a variety of settings, from microgrids to rural areas. And this type of fuel needs to be available by the time SMRs come to the market.

The consortium that is formed here is the type of partnership that will be useful in kick-starting this technology and then turning it over to let industry take the reins.

I thank my partners on this bill--Mr. Flores, Mr. Upton, Mr. Walden, and Mr. Pallone--for their leadership on this issue, and I thank our staffs for their work on this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, finally, I thank my friend and colleague Mr. Green, again, who is retiring this year. He has been a champion for bipartisanship and compromise, and an advocate for sound policy in this Chamber. He will be missed. I will also miss the Speaker who is sitting in the Chair right now.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6140.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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