The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Dec. 5 voted 48-0 to approve bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) that aims to boost the nation’s production of nuclear energy.
“I’m pleased that today, my bipartisan solution to expand nuclear fuel programs right here in the United States passed the Energy and Commerce Committee,” Rep. Latta said on Tuesday. “With this solution continuing to advance in Congress, we are one step closer to reducing our energy reliance on foreign countries and securing American energy independence.”
The congressman on Sept. 26 sponsored the Nuclear Fuel Security Act of 2023, H.R. 5718, alongside three original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH) and James Clyburn (D-SC), to establish and expand U.S. nuclear fuel programs to increase domestic uranium mining, production, enrichment, and conversion capacity, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Latta’s staff.
“As a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I’ve long advocated for an all-of-the-above energy strategy, which includes increasing domestic nuclear energy production to meet Americans’ growing energy needs,” said Rep. Latta.
If enacted, H.R. 5718 would authorize the U.S. Secretary of Energy to establish the Nuclear Fuel Security Program to increase the quantity of high-assay, low-enriched uranium and, if determined to be necessary after completion of a market evaluation, low-enriched uranium produced by U.S. nuclear energy companies, the summary says.
Among other provisions, H.R. 5718 also would 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.
“The Nuclear Fuel Security Act will ensure America continues to lead in deploying safe, reliable nuclear energy — one of our largest domestic sources of clean energy,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). “I thank Mr. Latta for his work on this legislation, which will contribute to a strong energy mix in the United States.”
Before heading to the full chamber for action, H.R. 5718 also must be approved by the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.