House lawmakers passed legislation designed to jump-start the next generation of nuclear reactors in a bipartisan vote Wednesday.
The “Atomic Energy Advancement Act,” H.R. 6544, from Reps. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), chair and ranking member, respectively, of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, passed 365-36.
H.R. 6544
The bill is meant to reduce regulatory hurdles and bolster the development of small, factory-built reactors that have been touted as a lifeline for an aging nuclear industry and a crucial step toward cutting the nation’s planet-warming emissions.
“Our goal is to bring America’s nuclear promise back into alignment,” Duncan said on the House floor. “The Nuclear Regulatory Commission should not be an impediment but rather a facilitator of nuclear advancement in America.”
