H.R. 10143 – Jobs, Not Waste Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated August 25, 2026 at 8:24 AM UTC

The Jobs, Not Waste Act of 2026 ends the federal effort to build a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. It cancels the licensing process, bars any future use of the site for nuclear waste, and directs the government to clean up the area. Within six months, the Office of Management and Budget must deliver a public study on how the site could be repurposed for jobs, such as defense facilities, renewable‑energy projects, or scientific research.

Key Provisions

Repeals the section of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act that authorizes the Yucca Mountain repository and removes related references from the law.
Withdraws the Department of Energy’s application for a construction authorization and terminates the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing proceeding for the site.
Prohibits the Secretary of Energy from considering Yucca Mountain for any future nuclear waste repository.
Requires the Secretary of Energy to reclaim the site and mitigate any environmental damage caused by earlier work.
Mandates that the OMB submit, within 180 days, a study to Congress and the public on the economic and job‑creation potential of alternative uses of the site, including defense, renewable energy, and scientific research.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

August 24, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

August 24, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

August 24, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued August 24, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10143

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 24, 2026

Ms. Lee of Nevada (for herself and Mr. Horsford) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To terminate the Yucca Mountain licensing proceeding and require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit to Congress a study on the economic viability and job-creating benefits of alternative uses of the Yucca Mountain site, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Jobs, Not Waste Act of 2026.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Appropriate committees of Congress

The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(A)

the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate;

(B)

the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

(C)

the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Commission

The term Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

(4)

Yucca Mountain site

The term Yucca Mountain site has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101).

3.

Termination of the Yucca Mountain licensing proceeding

(a)

Repeals

(1)

Nuclear Waste Policy Act provision

(A)

In general

Section 160 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10172) is repealed.

(B)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents in section 1 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (Public Law 97–425; 96 Stat. 2201, 101 Stat. 1330–255) is amended by striking the item relating to section 160.

(2)

Public Law 107–200

Public Law 107–200 (42 U.S.C. 10135 note; 116 Stat. 735) is repealed.

(b)

Termination

Effective on the date of enactment of this Act—

(1)

the application for a construction authorization for a repository at the Yucca Mountain site filed with the Commission by the Secretary is withdrawn; and

(2)

the Commission licensing proceeding for the proposed repository at the Yucca Mountain site is terminated.

(c)

Prohibition on future consideration

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall not consider (or reconsider) the Yucca Mountain site for the location of a repository.

(d)

Reclamation and mitigation

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall take all reasonable and necessary steps—

(1)

to reclaim the Yucca Mountain site; and

(2)

to mitigate any significant adverse environmental impacts caused by site characterization and other activities associated with the filing of the application for a construction authorization referred to in subsection (b)(1).

4.

Study on the economic benefit of alternative uses of the Yucca Mountain site

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make available to the public, a study on the economic viability and job-creating benefits of alternative uses of the Yucca Mountain site as described in the report of the Government Accountability Office numbered GAO–11–847 and dated September 2011, including—

(1)

defense activities, such as a command facility for unmanned aircraft systems;

(2)

the development of renewable energy sources; and

(3)

scientific research.