42 USC 16283 - International nuclear energy

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 12, 2026

§ 16283.

International nuclear energy

(a)

Short title

(b)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Advanced nuclear reactor

(2)

Ally or partner nation

The term “ally or partner nation” means—

(A)

the Government of any country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development;

(B)

the Government of the Republic of India; and

(C)

the Government of any country designated as an ally or partner nation by the Secretary of State for purposes of this section.

(3)

Appropriate committees of Congress

The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—

(A)

the Committees on Foreign Relations, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

(B)

the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Science, Space, and Technology, and Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

(4)

Associated entity

The term “associated entity” means an entity that—

(A)

is owned, controlled, or operated by—

(i)

an ally or partner nation; or

(ii)

an associated individual; or

(B)

is organized under the laws of, or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of, a country described in paragraph (2), including a corporation that is incorporated in a country described in that paragraph.

(5)

Associated individual

(6)

Civil nuclear

The term “civil nuclear” means activities, other than atomic energy defense activities, relating to—

(A)

nuclear plant construction;

(B)

nuclear fuel services;

(C)

nuclear energy financing;

(D)

nuclear plant operations;

(E)

nuclear plant regulation;

(F)

nuclear medicine;

(G)

nuclear safety;

(H)

community engagement in areas in reasonable proximity to nuclear sites;

(I)

infrastructure support for nuclear energy;

(J)

nuclear plant decommissioning;

(K)

nuclear liability;

(L)

safe storage and safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel;

(M)

environmental safeguards;

(N)

nuclear nonproliferation and security; and

(O)

technology related to the matters described in subparagraphs (A) through (N).

(7)

Embarking civil nuclear nation

(A)

In general

The term “embarking civil nuclear nation” means a country that—

(i)

does not have a civil nuclear energy program;

(ii)

is in the process of developing or expanding a civil nuclear energy program, including safeguards and a legal and regulatory framework, for—

(I)

nuclear safety;

(II)

nuclear security;

(III)

radioactive waste management;

(IV)

civil nuclear energy;

(V)

environmental safeguards;

(VI)

community engagement in areas in reasonable proximity to nuclear sites;

(VII)

nuclear liability; or

(VIII)

nuclear reactor licensing;

(iii)

is in the process of selecting, developing, constructing, or utilizing nuclear reactors, including advanced nuclear reactors, or advanced civil nuclear technologies; or

(iv)

is eligible to receive development lending from the World Bank.

(B)

Exclusions

The term “embarking civil nuclear nation” does not include—

(i)

the People’s Republic of China;

(ii)

the Russian Federation;

(iii)

the Republic of Belarus;

(iv)

the Islamic Republic of Iran;

(v)

the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea;

(vi)

the Republic of Cuba;

(vii)

the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;

(viii)

Burma; or

(ix)

any other country—

(I)

the property or interests in property of the government of which are blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or

(II)

the government of which the Secretary of State has determined has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism for purposes of—

(aa)

section 2371(a) of title 22;

(bb)

section 2780(d) of title 22;

(cc)

section 4813(c)(1)(A)(i) of title 50; or

(dd)

any other relevant provision of law.

(8)

Secretary

(9)

Spent nuclear fuel

(10)

United States nuclear energy company

The term “United States nuclear energy company” means a company that—

(A)

is organized under the laws of, or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of, the United States; and

(B)

is involved in the nuclear energy industry.

(c)

Nuclear Exports Working Group

(1)

Establishment

(2)

Composition

The working group shall be composed of—

(A)

senior-level Federal officials, selected internally by the applicable Federal agency or organization, from any Federal agency or organization that the President determines to be appropriate; and

(B)

other senior-level Federal officials, selected internally by the applicable Federal agency or organization, from any other Federal agency or organization that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(3)

Reporting

(4)

Duties

(5)

Strategy

(A)

In general

(B)

Collaboration required

In establishing the strategy under subparagraph (A), the working group shall collaborate with—

(i)

any Federal department or agency that the President determines to be appropriate; and

(ii)

representatives of private industry and experts in nuclear security and risk reduction, as appropriate.

(d)

Engagement with ally or partner nations

(1)

In general

(2)

Financing

(A)

In general

(B)

Officials described

The officials referred to in subparagraph (A) are—

(i)

appropriate officials of any Federal agency that the President determines to be appropriate; and

(ii)

appropriate officials representing foreign countries and governments, including—

(I)

ally or partner nations;

(II)

embarking civil nuclear nations; and

(III)

any other country or government that the President, in consultation with the officials described in clause (i), determines to be appropriate.

(3)

Activities

In carrying out the initiative described in paragraph (1), the President shall—

(A)

(i)

through engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency; or

(ii)

independently, if the applicable entity determines that it would be more advantageous under the circumstances to provide the applicable education and training independently;

(B)

assist the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency to expand the support provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency to embarking civil nuclear nations for nuclear safety, security, and safeguards;

(C)

coordinate with appropriate Federal departments and agencies on efforts to expand outreach to the private investment community and establish public-private financing relationships that enable the adoption of civil nuclear technologies by embarking civil nuclear nations, including through exports from the United States;

(D)

seek to better coordinate, to the maximum extent practicable, the work carried out by any Federal agency that the President determines to be appropriate; and

(E)

coordinate with the Export-Import Bank of the United States to improve the efficient and effective exporting of civil nuclear technologies and materials.

(e)

Cooperative financing relationships with ally or partner nations and embarking civil nuclear nations

(1)

In general

(2)

United States competitiveness clauses

(A)

Definition of United States competitiveness clause

In this paragraph, the term “United States competitiveness clause” means any United States competitiveness provision in any agreement entered into by the Department of Energy, including—

(i)

a cooperative agreement;

(ii)

a cooperative research and development agreement; and

(iii)

a patent waiver.

(B)

Consideration

(C)

Waiver

(f)

Cooperation with ally or partner nations on advanced nuclear reactor demonstration and cooperative research facilities for civil nuclear energy

(1)

In general

(2)

Requirement

The meetings described in paragraph (1) shall include—

(A)

a focus on cooperation to demonstrate and deploy advanced nuclear reactors, with an emphasis on United States nuclear energy companies, during the 10-year period beginning on December 18, 2025 to provide options for addressing energy security and environmental impacts; and

(B)

a focus on developing a memorandum of understanding or any other appropriate agreement between the United States and ally or partner nations with respect to—

(i)

the demonstration and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors; and

(ii)

the development of cooperative research facilities.

(3)

Financing arrangements

(g)

Omitted

(h)

International civil nuclear program support

(1)

In general

(2)

Financial assistance

(A)

In general

In carrying out the initiative, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and 1 or more other Federal officials designated by the President, if applicable, is authorized to award grants of financial assistance in amounts not greater than $5,500,000 to embarking civil nuclear nations in accordance with this paragraph—

(i)

for activities relating to the development of civil nuclear energy programs; and

(ii)

to facilitate the building of technical capacities for those activities.

(B)

Limitations

The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and 1 or more other Federal officials designated by the President, if applicable, may award—

(i)

not more than 1 grant of financial assistance under subparagraph (A) to any 1 embarking civil nuclear nation each fiscal year; and

(ii)

not more than a total of 5 grants of financial assistance under subparagraph (A) to any 1 embarking civil nuclear nation.

(3)

Senior advisors

(A)

In general

(B)

Requirement

A senior advisor described in subparagraph (A) shall have relevant experience and qualifications to advise the embarking civil nuclear nation on, and facilitate on behalf of the embarking civil nuclear nation, 1 or more of the following activities:

(i)

The development of financing relationships.

(ii)

The development of a standardized financing and project management framework for the construction of nuclear power plants.

(iii)

The development of a standardized licensing framework for—

(I)

light water civil nuclear technologies; and

(II)

non-light water civil nuclear technologies and advanced nuclear reactors.

(iv)

The identification of qualified organizations and service providers.

(v)

The identification of funds to support payment for services required to develop a civil nuclear program.

(vi)

Market analysis.

(vii)

The identification of the safety, security, safeguards, and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear program.

(viii)

Risk allocation, risk management, and nuclear liability.

(ix)

Technical assessments of nuclear reactors and technologies.

(x)

The identification of actions necessary to participate in a global nuclear liability regime based on the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, with Annex, done at Vienna September 12, 1997 (TIAS 15–415).

(xi)

Stakeholder engagement.

(xii)

Management of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.

(xiii)

Any other major activities to support the establishment of a civil nuclear program, such as the establishment of export, financing, construction, training, operations, and education requirements.

(C)

Clarification

(4)

Limitation on assistance to embarking civil nuclear nations

Not later than 1 year after December 18, 2025, the Offices of the Inspectors General for the Department of State and the Department of Energy shall coordinate—

(A)

to establish and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a joint strategic plan to conduct comprehensive oversight of activities authorized under this subsection to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse; and

(B)

to engage in independent and effective oversight of activities authorized under this subsection through joint or individual audits, inspections, investigations, or evaluations.

(5)

Authorization of appropriations

(i)

Biennial cabinet-level international conference on nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability

(1)

In general

(2)

Conference functions

It is the sense of Congress that each conference should—

(A)

be a forum in which ally or partner nations may engage with each other for the purpose of reinforcing the commitment to—

(i)

nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability;

(ii)

nonproliferation and environmental safeguards; and

(iii)

local community engagement in areas in reasonable proximity to nuclear sites;

(B)

facilitate—

(i)

the development of—

(I)

joint commitments and goals to improve—

(aa)

nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability;

(bb)

environmental safeguards; and

(cc)

local community engagement in areas in reasonable proximity to nuclear sites;

(II)

cooperative financing relationships to promote competitive alternatives to Chinese and Russian financing;

(III)

a standardized financing and project management framework for the construction of civil nuclear power plants;

(IV)

a strategy to change internal policies of multinational development banks, such as the World Bank, to support the financing of civil nuclear projects;

(V)

a document containing any lessons learned from countries that have partnered with the Russian Federation or the People’s Republic of China with respect to civil nuclear power, including any detrimental outcomes resulting from that partnership; and

(VI)

a global civil nuclear liability regime;

(ii)

cooperation for enhancing the overall aspects of civil nuclear power, such as—

(I)

nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability;

(II)

nuclear laws (including regulations);

(III)

waste management;

(IV)

quality management systems;

(V)

technology transfer;

(VI)

human resources development;

(VII)

localization;

(VIII)

reactor operations;

(IX)

nuclear liability; and

(X)

decommissioning; and

(iii)

the development and determination of the mechanisms described in subparagraphs (G) and (H) of subsection (j)(1), if the President intends to establish an Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center as described in that subsection;

(C)

strengthen the international institutions that support nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability; and

(D)

foster enhanced international coordination on licensing frameworks for civil nuclear technologies.

(3)

Input from industry and government

It is the sense of Congress that each conference should include a meeting that convenes nuclear industry leaders and leaders of government agencies with expertise relating to nuclear safety, security, safeguards, or sustainability to discuss best practices relating to—

(A)

the safe and secure use, storage, and transport of nuclear and radiological materials;

(B)

managing the evolving cyber threat to nuclear and radiological security; and

(C)

the role that the nuclear industry should play in nuclear and radiological safety, security, and safeguards, including with respect to the safe and secure use, storage, and transport of nuclear and radiological materials, including spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.

(j)

Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center

(1)

In general

The President shall consider the feasibility of leveraging existing activities or frameworks or, as necessary, establishing a center, to be known as the “Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center” (referred to in this subsection as the “Center”), for the purposes of—

(A)

identifying qualified organizations and service providers—

(i)

for embarking civil nuclear nations;

(ii)

to develop and assemble documents, contracts, and related items required to establish a civil nuclear program; and

(iii)

to develop a standardized model for the establishment of a civil nuclear program that can be used by the International Atomic Energy Agency;

(B)

coordinating with countries participating in the Center and with the Nuclear Exports Working Group established under subsection (c)—

(i)

to identify funds to support payment for services required to develop a civil nuclear program;

(ii)

to provide market analysis; and

(iii)

to create—

(I)

project structure models;

(II)

models for electricity market analysis;

(III)

models for nonelectric applications market analysis; and

(IV)

financial models;

(C)

fostering the safety, security, safeguards, and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear program;

(D)

supporting multinational standards or guidance on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards to be developed by countries with civil nuclear programs and experience;

(E)

developing and strengthening communications, engagement, and consensus-building;

(F)

carrying out any other major activities to support export, financing, education, construction, training, and education requirements relating to the establishment of a civil nuclear program;

(G)

developing mechanisms for how to fund and staff the Center; and

(H)

determining mechanisms for the selection of the location or locations of the Center.

(2)

Objective

(k)

Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group

(1)

Establishment

(2)

Composition

The working group shall be composed of—

(A)

senior-level Federal officials, selected by the head of the applicable Federal agency or organization, from any Federal agency or organization that the President determines to be appropriate;

(B)

other senior-level Federal officials, selected by the head of the applicable Federal agency or organization, from any other Federal agency or organization that the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and

(C)

any senior-level Federal official selected by the President or 1 or more Federal officials designated by the President from any Federal agency or organization.

(3)

Reporting

(4)

Duties

The working group shall—

(A)

provide direction and advice to the officials described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(i) and appropriate Federal agencies, as determined by the working group, with respect to the feasibility of establishing a Strategic Infrastructure Fund (referred to in this paragraph as the “Fund”) to be used—

(i)

to support those aspects of projects relating to—

(I)

civil nuclear technologies; and

(II)

microprocessors; and

(ii)

for strategic investments identified by the working group; and

(B)

address critical areas in determining the appropriate design for the Fund, including—

(i)

transfer of assets to the Fund;

(ii)

transfer of assets from the Fund;

(iii)

how assets in the Fund should be invested; and

(iv)

governance and implementation of the Fund.

(5)

Briefing and report required

(A)

Briefing

(B)

Report

(C)

Committees described

The committees referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) are—

(i)

the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and

(ii)

the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

(l)

Joint assessment between the United States and India on nuclear liability rules

(1)

In general

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall establish and maintain within the United States-India Strategic Security Dialogue a joint consultative mechanism with the Government of the Republic of India that convenes on a recurring basis—

(A)

to assess the implementation of the Agreement for Cooperation between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of India Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, signed at Washington October 10, 2008 (TIAS 08–1206);

(B)

to discuss opportunities for the Republic of India to align domestic nuclear liability rules with international norms; and

(C)

to develop a strategy for the United States and the Republic of India to pursue bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements related to analyzing and implementing those opportunities.

(2)

Report

(m)

Section 123 agreements

(1)

In general

The Secretary of State shall—

(A)

pursue, where in the interest of the United States, renegotiation or renewal of agreements for cooperation pursuant to section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2153) (commonly referred to, and referred to in this subsection, as “section 123 agreements”) that are scheduled to expire before the date that is 10 years after December 18, 2025; and

(B)

pursue, in any renegotiated or new section 123 agreements, agreements that adhere to the highest standards of safety, security, and nonproliferation.

(2)

Report

(A)

In general

(B)

Inclusions

The report required by paragraph (1) 1

 So in original. Probably should be “subparagraph (A)”.

shall include—

(i)

an updated list of all countries the Secretary of State with which is pursuing or has pursued section 123 agreements during the 1-year period ending on the date of submission of the report; and

(ii)

an analysis of current trends of global competition in the civil nuclear sphere with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China up and down the supply chain, including—

(I)

the participation of those countries in global nuclear fuel markets; and

(II)

trends in the participation of the People’s Republic of China in those markets.

(n)

Program to enhance global competitiveness

The Secretary, in consultation with the relevant heads of other Federal departments and agencies, shall implement a program to enhance the global competitiveness of United States persons (as defined in section 1708(d) of title 50) who are nuclear suppliers, investors, or lenders to compete for nuclear projects in foreign countries, including—

(1)

expediting the conclusion of intergovernmental agreements on nuclear energy and the fuel supply chain with potential export countries;

(2)

promoting broad adherence to the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, with Annex, done at Vienna September 12, 1997 (TIAS 15–415); and

(3)

encouraging favorable decisions by potential partner countries on the use of nuclear technology, fuel supplies, equipment, and services from the United States.

(o)

Rosatom

(1)

Statement of policy

It shall be the policy of the United States—

(A)

to work with allies and partners to identify alternative nuclear energy suppliers to Russia to end the reliance of those allies and partners on Rosatom;

(B)

to promote United States nuclear energy exports and prioritize engagement in countries where Rosatom is present;

(C)

to condemn the involvement of Rosatom in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the role of Rosatom in endangering nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant;

(D)

to limit the exploitation of Rosatom by the Russian Federation as a tool of malign influence;

(E)

to end United States reliance on the Russian nuclear energy sector; and

(F)

to protect national security interests by United States civil nuclear partnerships and exports and to protect the national security interests of the United States.

(2)

Strategy

Not later than 180 days after December 18, 2025, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a strategy—

(A)

to promote United States nuclear energy exports and United States nuclear energy companies, especially in nations where Rosatom is present;

(B)

to utilize the tools available to the United States government to discourage civil nuclear nations from partnering with Rosatom;

(C)

to identify what is necessary to effect a permanent decoupling of the United States from the Russian nuclear industry; and

(D)

to succeed Rosatom as the primary entity that can provide reactor safety and operation services to the existing Rosatom and Russian-designed and constructed nuclear reactor fleet.

(3)

Form

(p)

Savings provisions

(1)

Savings provision regarding section 123 agreements

(2)

Savings provision regarding authorities of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

(q)

Sunset

(Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIII, § 8366, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1889.)

cite as: 42 USC 16283