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118th Congress Energy

H.R. 6544: Atomic Energy Advancement Act

Passed HouseFeb 28, 2024

  1. Introduced (completed)Dec 1, 2023
  2. Passed House (completed)Feb 28, 2024, 365–36
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Passed House, Feb 28, 2024

This bill establishes various requirements to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy technologies, such as advanced nuclear reactors.

Specifically, the bill sets forth requirements that direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to efficiently license and regulate nuclear energy activities. The bill also revises the NRC's hiring process to enable the NRC to respond to a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need by using direct hiring for certain positions to carry out NRC's responsibilities and activities in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.

It also reduces certain licensing fees charged by the NRC for advanced nuclear reactors. Further, it authorizes the Department of Energy (DOE) to make awards that pay for certain licensing fees.

Read the full summary

Additionally, the bill directs the NRC to promulgate a final rule that implements a process to facilitate efficient and timely environmental reviews of nuclear reactor applications.

The NRC must also develop and implement strategies to enable efficient and timely licensing reviews for, and to support the oversight of, nuclear facilities at brownfield sites, including sites with retired fossil fuel facilities.

Next, the bill sets forth requirements for expediting certain licensing decisions for new nuclear reactors that will use a previously licensed design and will be on or adjacent to a site on which a nuclear reactor already operates or previously operated.

It also authorizes DOE to establish a pilot program under which DOE may make certain long-term power purchase agreements for power generated by commercial nuclear reactors.

Finally, the bill establishes requirements concerning international nuclear energy cooperation and safety.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Key votes

House final vote, Feb 28, 2024

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Passed 365–36

Yea 365two-thirds 268Nay 36

  • Democrats166 yea, 36 nay
  • Republicans198 yea, 0 nay
  • Independents1 yea, 0 nay

Broke with their party: Maxine Waters (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Mark Takano (D-CA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Katie Porter (D-CA) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) voted Nay; and 26 more

See how all 402 members voted

Showing 431 of 431 members

Yea 365

Republicans (198)

Democrats (166)

Independents (1)

Nay 36

Present 1

Democrats (1)

Not voting 29

Senate

Not yet voted

Passed the House Feb 28, 2024. Awaiting Senate action.

Roll calls

1 vote on this bill

Showing 1 of 1 roll calls

  • Feb 28, 2024HouseOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as AmendedFinal passagePassed, yea-nay 365–36
    Roll call 55 tally by party
    PartyYeaNayPresentNot voting
    Democrats1663619
    Republicans1980020
    Independents1000
    Total36536129

    House roll call 55: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended. Passed.

    36 crossed party lines: 36 Democrats

    How each member voted (431)

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

1

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

300 points earned
  1. 1Jeff Duncan R-SC SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reported, discharged, passed House5 events+80
  2. 2Becca Balint D-VT1 maverick vote1 event+6
  3. 2Nanette Barragán D-CA1 maverick vote1 event+6
  4. 2Suzanne Bonamici D-OR1 maverick vote1 event+6
  5. 2Cori Bush D-MO1 maverick vote1 event+6
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Jeff Duncan

History

  1. Feb 28, 2024Passed the House, 365–36.
  2. Dec 1, 2023Introduced in the House by Jeff Duncan.
Show the full action history (19 actions)
  1. Feb 29, 2024Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  2. Feb 28, 2024Mr. Duncan moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  3. Feb 28, 2024Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H703-715)
  4. Feb 28, 2024DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6544.
  5. Feb 28, 2024At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  6. Feb 28, 2024Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H730-731)
  7. Feb 28, 2024Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 365 - 36, 1 Present (Roll no. 55). (text: CR H703-711)
  8. Feb 28, 2024On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 365 - 36, 1 Present (Roll no. 55). (text: CR H703-711)
  9. Feb 28, 2024Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  10. Feb 16, 2024Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-391, Part I.
  11. Feb 16, 2024Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
  12. Feb 16, 2024Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.
  13. Feb 16, 2024Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 320.
  14. Dec 5, 2023Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  15. Dec 5, 2023Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 47 - 2.
  16. Dec 1, 2023Introduced in House
  17. Dec 1, 2023Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  18. Oct 24, 2023Consideration and Mark-up Session Held by the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security Prior to Introduction and Referral
  19. Jul 18, 2023Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security Prior to Introduction and Referral