Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3978) to amend the definition of ``production facility'' in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to exclude an equipment or device capable of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel in a manner that does not separate plutonium from other transuranic elements, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3978.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 3978, the Nuclear REFUEL Act, which I introduced with the gentleman from California's 50th Congressional District.

A strong, robust, domestic nuclear fuel cycle is essential for maintaining growing nuclear capacity in this country. The deployment of advanced reactors and the operation of our existing fleet cannot be accomplished without access to an abundant secure fuel supply.

To assist this important goal, H.R. 3978 advances a policy to maximize access to the additional energy available in spent nuclear fuel, which retains up to 90 percent of potential energy for future use.

This legislation does this by clarifying that spent fuel reprocessing facilities would be licensed under the same one-step framework as other fuel cycle facilities rather than the longer two-step process more appropriate for nuclear reactors and facilities that produce special nuclear material for national security purposes.

This bill was thoroughly vetted in the legislative process in the Energy and Commerce Committee and was reported, as amended, by unanimous bipartisan recorded vote.

Allowing for a more efficient and predictable licensing pathway for reprocessing facilities supports the pursuit of this promising technology.

H.R. 3978 maintains nonproliferation protection and all necessary requirements to assure adequate protection of the public. It also creates a more efficient path for extraction of certain important isotopes from spent fuel, which are critical to American space exploration and national security missions.

If our Nation is going to maintain its lead on nuclear technologies, we must make maximum use of our nuclear fuel resources and provide an efficient path to license promising reprocessing technologies.

I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3978, the Nuclear REFUEL Act. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I also would request the Members to pass H.R. 3978, as amended, as this is very important for our nuclear technology that we are advancing in this country. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3978, the Nuclear REFUEL Act, will potentially help us get more energy out of the spent nuclear fuel piled up at reactor sites across the Nation.

The bill makes a simple tweak to the Atomic Energy Act, ensuring that future proposals to develop facilities to

recycle or reprocess spent nuclear fuel are licensed similarly to other fuel cycle facilities.

This is not a shortcut for reprocessing facilities. It just puts them on a level playing field with typical uranium enrichment facilities, mirroring an amendment Congress made to the Atomic Energy Act back in 1990. These facilities would still go through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's licensing process and would be subject to NRC scrutiny.

I also want to note two important features of this bill. The first is that the changes here do not apply to any facility that would isolate plutonium nor do they apply to export controls on reprocessing technologies.

These important safeguards ensure that our current nonproliferation regime is kept safe and intact. I thank Representative Peters and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Latta for their bipartisan work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

I have no additional speakers. This is an important bill, and I would urge support on a bipartisan basis. I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I was not present for the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: YEA on Roll Call Vote No. 315, on motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, H.R. 3978, the Nuclear Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing Act; and YEA on Roll Call Vote No. 316, on the motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, H.R. 9612, the American Enrichment Deployment Act.

Mr Speaker, on November 9, 2026, I was necessarily absent and missed the following votes on the House Floor. Had I been present, I would have voted: YES on Roll Call No. 315, H.R. 3978--Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act, and YES on Role Call No. 316, HR. 9612--American Enrichment Deployment Act.

Mr. Speaker, I was necessarily absent and missed the following votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 315, H.R. 3978; and YEA on Roll Call No. 316, H.R. 9612.

Personal Explanation