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Today, Congressman Bob Latta’s (R-OH5) bipartisan legislation, the Nuclear Fuel Security Act, was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security. The bill will establish and expand critical U.S. nuclear fuel programs to boost domestic uranium mining, production, enrichment, and conversion capacity. Latta introduced the bill last month with Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC6).

“As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I’m committed to advancing policies that embrace an all-of-the-above energy strategy, which includes expanding our nuclear energy capabilities,” Latta said.  “Rather than being forced to import mass quantities of uranium fuel from foreign countries to power our domestic nuclear reactors, my Nuclear Fuel Security Act will allow the United States to produce and stockpile our own source of nuclear energy. I’m pleased to see my legislation advance through the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee because it will help strengthen our nuclear energy capabilities while lowering carbon emissions, creating new jobs, spurring economic growth, and providing for a safer America.”

Background on the Nuclear Fuel Security Act:

This legislation would authorize the Secretary of Energy to:

· establish the Nuclear Fuel Security Program to increase the quantity of high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and, if determined to be necessary after completion of a market evaluation, low-enriched uranium (LEU) produced by U.S. nuclear energy companies,

· expand the American Assured Fuel Supply Program to ensure the availability of domestically produced, converted, and enriched uranium in the event of a supply disruption, and

· establish the HALEU for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Projects Program to maximize the potential for DOE to meet the needs and schedules of advanced nuclear reactor developers until such time that commercial enrichment and deconversion capability for HALEU exists in the U.S. at a scale sufficient to meet future needs and, where practicable, partner with countries that are allies or partners of the U.S. to meet those needs and schedules until that time.

Click here to view Latta’s remarks in support of his Nuclear Fuel Security Act at the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee markup.

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