U.S. House of Representatives Proposed Bill

117TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. _______

To authorize the Secretary of Energy to designate spent nuclear fuel as Generation IV nuclear fuel and to allow the use of the United States Nuclear Waste Management Fund for recycling, treatment, and commercialization of such fuel and associated technologies.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
[Date of introduction]
Mr./Ms. [Sponsor’s Name] introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Energy to designate spent nuclear fuel as Generation IV nuclear fuel and to support the treatment, recycling, and commercialization of advanced nuclear fuel technologies.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Spent Nuclear Fuel Recycling and Generation IV Fuel Utilization Act of 2026."

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL AS GENERATION IV FUEL.

(a) Authority to Designate.—
The Secretary of Energy may, by rule or order, designate certain categories of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) as Generation IV nuclear fuel, provided that—

(1) such SNF is technically suitable for use in advanced nuclear reactor designs, including but not limited to fast spectrum and molten salt reactors;

(2) such use results in a reduction of radiotoxicity or volume of nuclear waste by at least 80 percent, as determined through a Department-certified scientific assessment.

(b) Fuel Qualification Program.—
The Secretary may establish a program for the qualification and certification of recycled SNF fuel intended for use in Generation IV reactors.

SEC. 3. USE OF NUCLEAR WASTE FUND FOR FUEL RECYCLING AND MATCHING PROJECTS.

(a) Matching Funds Authorization.—
The Secretary of Energy may allocate up to $8,000,000,000 per project from the United States Nuclear Waste Management Fund for projects that—

(1) recycle, treat, or reuse SNF for power generation in Generation IV reactors;

(2) are matched dollar-for-dollar by state governments or private sector investment;

(3) demonstrate a net reduction in long-term nuclear waste obligations.

(b) Minimum Fund Retention Requirement.—
Notwithstanding any provision of law, no disbursement under this section shall reduce the United States Nuclear Waste Management Fund below $8,000,000,000 at any time.

SEC. 4. COMMERCIALIZATION OF HALEU FUEL.

(a) Authorization of Funding.—
The Secretary may utilize up to $5,000,000,000 from the United States Nuclear Waste Management Fund or other available Department of Energy appropriations for activities including:

(1) commercial-scale enrichment, conversion, or production of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU);

(2) construction or upgrading of domestic HALEU infrastructure;

(3) public-private partnerships or demonstration projects related to HALEU availability for advanced reactors.

SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources a report including:

(1) the list and descriptions of projects funded under this Act;

(2) the total funds obligated and expended;

(3) quantitative reductions in nuclear waste volumes or toxicity;

(4) any legislative or regulatory recommendations to expand program effectiveness.

SEC. 6. RULEMAKING.

The Secretary shall, not later than 12 months after the date of enactment, issue final rules necessary to implement this Act, including guidelines for:

(1) application procedures;

(2) SNF recycling project eligibility;

(3) environmental, security, and waste reduction metrics.

Would you like a companion Senate version, legislative summary, or one-page briefing sheet to go with this resolution?

U.S. Senate Companion Bill

117TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. _______

To authorize the Secretary of Energy to designate spent nuclear fuel as Generation IV nuclear fuel and to allow the use of the United States Nuclear Waste Management Fund for recycling, treatment, and commercialization of such fuel and associated technologies.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
[Date of introduction]
Mr./Ms. [Senator’s Name] introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Energy to designate spent nuclear fuel as Generation IV nuclear fuel and to support the treatment, recycling, and commercialization of advanced nuclear fuel technologies.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Spent Nuclear Fuel Recycling and Generation IV Fuel Utilization Act of 2026."

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL AS GENERATION IV FUEL.

(a) Authority to Designate.—
The Secretary of Energy may, by rule or order, designate certain categories of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) as Generation IV nuclear fuel, provided that—

(1) such SNF is technically suitable for use in advanced nuclear reactor designs, including but not limited to fast spectrum and molten salt reactors;

(2) such use results in a reduction of radiotoxicity or volume of nuclear waste by at least 80 percent, as determined through a Department-certified scientific assessment.

(b) Fuel Qualification Program.—
The Secretary may establish a program for the qualification and certification of recycled SNF fuel intended for use in Generation IV reactors.

SEC. 3. USE OF NUCLEAR WASTE FUND FOR FUEL RECYCLING AND MATCHING PROJECTS.

(a) Matching Funds Authorization.—
The Secretary of Energy may allocate up to $8,000,000,000 per project from the United States Nuclear Waste Management Fund for projects that—

(1) recycle, treat, or reuse SNF for power generation in Generation IV reactors;

(2) are matched dollar-for-dollar by state governments or private sector investment;

(3) demonstrate a net reduction in long-term nuclear waste obligations.

(b) Minimum Fund Retention Requirement.—
Notwithstanding any provision of law, no disbursement under this section shall reduce the United States Nuclear Waste Management Fund below $8,000,000,000 at any time.

SEC. 4. COMMERCIALIZATION OF HALEU FUEL.

(a) Authorization of Funding.—
The Secretary may utilize up to $5,000,000,000 from the United States Nuclear Waste Management Fund or other available Department of Energy appropriations for activities including:

(1) commercial-scale enrichment, conversion, or production of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU);

(2) construction or upgrading of domestic HALEU infrastructure;

(3) public-private partnerships or demonstration projects related to HALEU availability for advanced reactors.

SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce a report including:

(1) the list and descriptions of projects funded under this Act;

(2) the total funds obligated and expended;

(3) quantitative reductions in nuclear waste volumes or toxicity;

(4) any legislative or regulatory recommendations to expand program effectiveness.

SEC. 6. RULEMAKING.

The Secretary shall, not later than 12 months after the date of enactment, issue final rules necessary to implement this Act, including guidelines for:

(1) application procedures;

(2) SNF recycling project eligibility;

(3) environmental, security, and waste reduction metrics.

Download a 1-pager for US House and Senate staffers