Senate taking up bipartisan nuclear package

By Nico Portuondo | 06/13/2024 04:17 PM EDT

The legislation may become law as soon as next week.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is seen during a press conference.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) took steps Thursday afternoon to consider compromise nuclear energy legislation. Francis Chung/POLITICO

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer teed up a floor vote on broad nuclear energy legislation as soon as next week, virtually guaranteeing the package will soon be headed to the president’s desk.

The “Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act,” a compromise agreement between the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Environment and Public Works committees, aims to help the Nuclear Regulatory Commission boost reactor deployment.

The legislation seeks to grow the NRC workforce, streamline the licensing process for advanced reactors and promote the development of fusion technology.

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Schumer announced Thursday that he had reached a bipartisan agreement to debate and vote on S. 870, the “Fire Grants and Safety Act.” The nuclear package is tucked within that bill to reauthorize federal firefighter programs.

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