Gonzalez unveils bipartisan Twenty First Century Nuclear Security Act

U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) on June 17 introduced a bipartisan bill that would direct the U.S. Energy Secretary to submit a report to Congress on the global nuclear leadership of the United States.

“This review will provide us the knowledge and tools to transform our domestic nuclear sector, prevail in the long-term competition against Russia and China, and advance our interests with respect to global nuclear security and nuclear proliferation,” said Rep. Gonzalez, who sponsored the Twenty First Century Nuclear Security Act, H.R. 3995, with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA).

If enacted, H.R. 3995 would seek to assess the risk to U.S. national security posed by Russian and Chinese dominance in the global nuclear energy market and to identify opportunities for the U.S. to regain global leadership, according to a bill summary provided by the congressman’s office.

“Our country is facing a major challenge to its historical leadership in the global nuclear energy market,” Rep. Gonzalez said. “Authoritarian regimes such as Russia and China are actively taking steps to dominate the market and supplant the U.S. as the leader of nuclear technologies.”

The Nuclear Innovation Alliance and the Nuclear Energy Assembly endorsed the bill, which also would require federal agencies to submit a report to Congress analyzing the importance of civilian nuclear power agreements and opportunities for advancing U.S. national security interests, the summary says.

The measure has been referred to the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.