CONSERVATIVE BRIEF: House Passes GOP Rep’s Nuclear Regulatory Reform Measure

The House has approved legislation aimed at streamlining the federal nuclear reactor licensing process while keeping independent safety reviews focused on new and potentially significant risks.

Lawmakers passed H.R. 9613, the Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act, by voice vote Monday after considering the legislation under suspension of the rules.

The bill was introduced by Republican Tennessee Rep. Diana Harshbarger and would update the responsibilities of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, commonly known as ACRS.

The independent committee advises the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on reactor safety issues, proposed standards and other technical matters involving civilian nuclear facilities.

Harshbarger said her legislation is intended to focus the committee's expertise on "novel, safety-significant issues" rather than requiring additional examination of matters that have already been resolved elsewhere in the regulatory process.

"When it comes to nuclear energy, safety has to come first, and today's vote gets us one step closer to making sure America's top experts are focused on the issues that matter most," Harshbarger said after passage.

"This commonsense bill keeps independent safety review in place and concentrates it on new and significant issues instead of rehashing what's already been resolved," she added.

The legislation would amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and make several changes governing the committee's role in reviewing applications before the NRC.

Under the proposal, ACRS would concentrate its reviews on reactor designs and safety issues considered unique, novel or noteworthy rather than automatically conducting the same level of examination across every licensing matter.

The Congressional Budget Office said the committee currently advises the NRC on nuclear reactor risks and proposed safety standards.

CBO said the legislation would direct ACRS to focus specifically on "reactor designs and risks that are unique, novel, or noteworthy."

The legislation would also change rules governing how long members may remain on the committee.

Committee members generally could serve no more than two terms, although the NRC could retain a member beyond that limit if commissioners determined there was a compelling need.

The reforms come as Washington seeks to accelerate development of advanced nuclear reactors while confronting concerns that lengthy federal permitting and licensing procedures are slowing construction.

President Donald Trump has made expansion of nuclear power part of his administration's broader effort to increase domestic energy production and meet rapidly growing electricity demand.

The administration has particularly emphasized the need for additional generation as artificial intelligence data centers, manufacturing facilities and other large industrial users place greater pressure on the electrical grid.

Harshbarger argued that unnecessary regulatory delays could put the United States at a competitive disadvantage to China as both countries seek to expand their nuclear industries.

"We cannot afford to mistake procedure for safety, or to cede the future of nuclear energy to Communist China," Harshbarger said.

"I'm grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who helped get this done. I'll keep pushing to get this bill to President Trump's desk."

The legislation was introduced July 9 with Republican Texas Rep. Craig Goldman as an original co-sponsor and referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Energy Subcommittee advanced the measure by voice vote on July 14 before the full Energy and Commerce Committee ordered it reported in September.

The committee formally reported an amended version to the House on Nov. 5.

The measure then received 40 minutes of debate Monday before lawmakers approved it by voice vote.

CBO concluded that the bill would have almost no effect on federal spending.

The budget office noted that ACRS already narrowed its attention toward novel and noteworthy reactor designs and risks following a 2025 executive order reforming the NRC.

As a result, CBO estimated that implementing the bill's principal review provision would have no effect on federal spending.

Potential administrative costs associated with changing committee-member term limits would total less than $500,000 between 2027 and 2031, according to CBO.