H.R. 3626 — International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025

This section defines terms used in the Act, including (1) advanced nuclear reactor (i.e., nuclear fission reactors with safety improvements over pre-2016 models, fusion reactors, or radioisotope power systems); (2) ally or partner nation (i.e., OECD member governments, India, or countries designated by the Secretary of State); (3) embarking civil nuclear nation (i.e., countries developing or expanding civil nuclear programs with per capita GDP not exceeding $28,000 in 2020, excluding China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Burma, and state sponsors of terrorism under 22 U.S.C. 2371(a) and related laws); and (4) civil nuclear (i.e., activities such as nuclear plant construction, fuel services, safety, nonproliferation, and waste management).

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the President should establish, within the Executive Office of the President, the Office of the Assistant to the President and Director for International Nuclear Energy Policy—headed by an Assistant to the President titled Director for International Nuclear Energy Policy—to coordinate U.S. international civil nuclear cooperation and export strategy, including development of whole-of-government strategies for civil nuclear exports and engagement with foreign governments (including allies, partners, and embarking civil nuclear nations). The section establishes the Nuclear Exports Working Group, composed of senior officials from the Departments of State, Commerce, Energy, and the Treasury; the Export-Import Bank of the United States; the United States International Development Finance Corporation; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; the Office of the United States Trade Representative; the United States Trade and Development Agency; and other agencies as determined appropriate, to report to a White House official; coordinate not less frequently than quarterly with specified advisory committees to track U.S. civil nuclear exports; and develop a 10-year civil nuclear trade strategy with biennial export targets for civil nuclear technologies (including light water and non-light water reactors), materials, and fuel not later than one year after enactment.

This section directs the President to launch an international initiative, in accordance with applicable nuclear technology export laws and regulations, to modernize civil nuclear outreach to embarking civil nuclear nations (i.e., countries beginning to develop civil nuclear energy programs) in order to improve the efficient export and import of civil nuclear technologies and materials. In implementing the initiative, the President, acting through an appropriate federal official such as the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), may seek cooperative financing relationships for such exports, in coordination with specified officials. The President must further (1) assist nongovernmental organizations, Department of Energy (DOE) elements, and other federal entities in providing nuclear safety, security, and safeguards education and training to foreign governments through or independently of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); (2) assist IAEA efforts to expand such support to embarking civil nuclear nations; (3) coordinate the DFC Chief Executive Officer and Export-Import Bank of the United States to expand private investment outreach for public-private financing of civil nuclear technology adoption, including U.S. exports; and (4) maximize coordination among the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, DOE, Department of Commerce, Nuclear Energy Agency, IAEA, and nuclear regulatory agencies of embarking civil nuclear nations and U.S. allies or partners.

This section directs the President to designate an appropriate White House official—who may be the Assistant, if appointed—and the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to coordinate with officials specified in section 3(a)(2) to develop, as the President determines appropriate, financing relationships with ally or partner nations to support adoption of civil nuclear technologies exported from the United States or such allies or partners to embarking civil nuclear nations (i.e., countries newly developing civil nuclear energy programs). The section further requires those officials to consider the impact of "United States competitiveness clauses" (i.e., competitiveness provisions in Department of Energy agreements such as cooperative agreements, cooperative research and development agreements, and patent waivers) on such financing relationships and directs the Secretary of Energy to facilitate waivers of those clauses as necessary.

This section directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Commerce, to conduct bilateral and multilateral meetings with at least five ally or partner nations not later than two years after enactment of this Act to enhance U.S. cooperation on the research, development, licensing, and deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technologies for civil nuclear energy. The meetings must focus on (1) demonstrating and deploying such reactors, with emphasis on U.S. nuclear energy companies, during the 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment to address energy security and climate change; and (2) developing a memorandum of understanding or other agreement for reactor demonstration, deployment, and cooperative research facilities. It further requires seeking financing arrangements to share costs of reactor demonstration, deployment, and cooperative research facilities with participating nations and submitting a joint report to Congress not later than one year after enactment identifying potential partners for such cost-sharing or agreements.

This section revises the Department of Energy's international civil nuclear energy cooperation program by restructuring it into subsections (a) through (c), making minor wording changes to existing paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2), and adding new purposes in paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) to (1) support the safe, secure, and peaceful use of civil nuclear technology in countries developing nuclear energy programs—particularly those increasing cooperation with Russia or China—and (2) promote utilization of U.S. nuclear energy companies' reactors, fuel, equipment, services, and technology abroad through bilateral or multilateral arrangements, company designations, waivers of competition laws (in consultation with the Attorney General and Secretary of Commerce), and loans, loan guarantees, or equity assistance (if funds are available). It further requires program implementation, in coordination with the National Security Council, Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission, through workshops and expert exchanges on topics such as training, financing, safety, security, safeguards, liability, advanced fuels, operations, and multinational spent nuclear fuel disposal. Finally, this section authorizes $15,500,000 for each of FY2026 through 2030 to carry out activities under new paragraph (a)(3).

This section establishes an international initiative, to be launched by the Secretary of State in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and an Assistant (if appointed) not later than 120 days after enactment, to provide financial assistance grants of up to $5.5 million and facilitate technical capacity building to embarking civil nuclear nations (i.e., countries developing civil nuclear energy programs). Grants are limited to one per nation per fiscal year and five total per nation; the initiative also authorizes separate assistance for those nations to contract with U.S. nuclear energy companies to hire senior advisors expert in areas such as financing, licensing frameworks for light-water and advanced reactors, safety and safeguards, nuclear liability under the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, spent fuel management, and other program establishment activities. Within one year of enactment, the Inspectors General of State and Energy must submit to congressional committees a joint strategic oversight plan, including audits and investigations, to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. The section authorizes $50 million to the Secretary of State for each of FY2026 through 2030.

This section requires the President, in coordination with international partners and industry, to hold a biennial cabinet-level international conference on civil nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability. It expresses the sense of Congress that each conference (1) serve as a forum for ally and partner nations to reinforce commitments to nuclear safety, security, safeguards, sustainability, environmental safeguards, and local community engagement near nuclear sites; (2) facilitate development of joint commitments and goals, stronger international institutions, cooperative financing alternatives to Chinese and Russian financing, standardized financing and licensing frameworks, strategies to support civil nuclear projects at multilateral development banks, lessons learned from Russia/China nuclear partnerships, and a global civil nuclear liability regime; and (3) promote cooperation on nuclear laws, waste management, technology transfer, human resources, reactor operations, and decommissioning. It further expresses the sense of Congress that each conference include a meeting of nuclear industry leaders and government experts to discuss best practices for nuclear materials handling, cyber threats, and industry roles in safety, security, and safeguards.

This section directs the President to assess the feasibility of establishing the Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center—leveraging existing activities or frameworks as appropriate—to support civil nuclear programs in embarking nations by (1) identifying qualified organizations and service providers to develop required documents, contracts, and a standardized model for use by the International Atomic Energy Agency; (2) coordinating with participating countries and the Nuclear Exports Working Group to identify funding, provide market analyses, and create project, electricity, nonelectric, and financial models; (3) developing safety, security, safeguards, and nuclear governance requirements; (4) supporting multinational regulatory standards; (5) strengthening communications and consensus-building; and (6) addressing other export, financing, construction, training, and education needs, including mechanisms for funding, staffing, and locating the center. The President shall pursue establishment of the center if determined feasible.

This section modifies the prohibition on Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses for activities outside U.S. jurisdiction under Sections 103(d) and 104(d) of the Atomic Energy Act to apply only to production facilities (previously applied to all utilization and production facilities). (Thus, the NRC may license commercial or medical/research utilization facilities—such as power reactors—for operation abroad, subject to existing exceptions for exports under cooperation agreements.)

This section establishes the Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group, led by a White House official and composed of senior officials from the Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, and Energy; the Export-Import Bank of the United States; the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and other agencies as determined appropriate, to report to the National Security Council. The working group must provide advice to specified officials and agencies on establishing a Strategic Infrastructure Fund to support civil nuclear technologies, microprocessors, and other strategic investments, including fund design elements such as asset transfers, investments, governance, and implementation. Not later than one year after enactment, the working group must submit to designated Senate and House committees (i.e., Foreign Relations, Commerce/Science/Transportation, Armed Services, Energy/Natural Resources, Environment/Public Works, and Finance in the Senate; and Foreign Affairs, Energy/Commerce, Armed Services, Science/Space/Technology, and Ways/Means in the House) a report with findings and suggested legislative text for the fund, including requirements for all expenditures to be administered by the Secretary of State (or designee).

This section directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with other relevant federal departments and agencies, to establish and maintain within the U.S.-India Strategic Security Dialogue a joint consultative mechanism with India that convenes on a recurring basis (1) to assess implementation of the 2008 U.S.-India Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (TIAS 08–1206); (2) to discuss opportunities for India to align its domestic nuclear liability rules with international norms; and (3) to develop strategies for bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements related to those opportunities. It further requires the Secretary of State to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing the assessment under (1) not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for five years.

This section establishes objectives for the United States Small Modular Reactor Initiative, including (1) demonstrating domestically developed small modular reactor (SMR) technology competitive against designs from Russia and China, (2) developing a domestic nuclear supply chain to support near-term SMR exports, and (3) demonstrating SMRs using low-enriched uranium-derived fuels. The section authorizes appropriations of $1,439,000,000 for FY2026 to the Secretary of Energy, in addition to other available amounts and pursuant to Department of Energy funding opportunity announcements DE–NE0008935 and DE–NE0008928, to remain available through September 30, 2034, for regulatory development, design, and deployment activities.