National Nuclear University Research Infrastructure Reinvestment Act of 2021
This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and expands the Nuclear Energy University Program within the Department of Energy (DOE) that supports university research and training in nuclear science and engineering. For example, the bill expands the program to provide support to universities for revitalizing and upgrading existing nuclear science and engineering infrastructure that support the development of advanced nuclear technologies and applications. In addition, the bill establishes an Advanced Nuclear Research Infrastructure Enhancement Subprogram under which DOE must establish four new research reactors as well as new nuclear science and engineering facilities.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4819 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4819
To require the Secretary of Energy to revitalize existing university
infrastructure relating to nuclear science and engineering and
establish new university-based nuclear science and engineering
facilities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 29, 2021
Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio (for himself, Mr. Foster, Mr. Casten, and Mr.
Meijer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Energy to revitalize existing university
infrastructure relating to nuclear science and engineering and
establish new university-based nuclear science and engineering
facilities, and for other purposes.
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 ``National Nuclear University Research
Infrastructure Reinvestment Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to upgrade the nuclear research capabilities of
universities in the United States to meet the research
requirements of advanced nuclear energy systems;
(2) to ensure the continued operation of university
research reactors;
(3) to coordinate available resources to enable the
establishment, including the start and efficient completion of
construction, of new nuclear science and engineering
facilities; and
(4) to support--
(A) workforce development critical to maintaining
United States leadership in nuclear science and
engineering and related disciplines; and
(B) the establishment or enhancement of nuclear
science and engineering capabilities and other, related
capabilities at historically Black colleges and
universities, Tribal colleges or universities,
minority-serving institutions, EPSCoR universities,
junior or community colleges, and associate-degree-
granting colleges.
SEC. 3. UNIVERSITY INFRASTRUCTURE COLLABORATION.
Section 954(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16274(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (D) to read
as follows:
``(D) promote collaborations, partnerships, and
knowledge sharing between institutions of higher
education, National Laboratories, industry, and
associated labor unions; and''; and
(2) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) Strengthening university research and training
reactors and associated infrastructure.--
``(A) In general.--In carrying out the program
under this subsection, the Secretary may support--
``(i) converting research reactors from
high-enrichment fuels to low-enrichment fuels
and upgrading operational instrumentation;
``(ii) revitalizing and upgrading existing
nuclear science and engineering infrastructure
that support the development of advanced
nuclear technologies and applications;
``(iii) regional or subregional university-
led consortia to--
``(I) broaden access to university
research reactors;
``(II) enhance existing university-
based nuclear science and engineering
infrastructure; and
``(III) provide project management,
technical support, quality engineering
and inspections, manufacturing, and
nuclear material support;
``(iv) student training programs, in
collaboration with the United States nuclear
industry, in relicensing and upgrading
reactors, including through the provision of
technical assistance; and
``(v) reactor improvements that emphasize
research, training, and education, including
through the Innovations in Nuclear
Infrastructure and Education Program or any
similar program.
``(B) Authorization of appropriations.--Of any
amounts appropriated to carry out the program under
this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary to carry out clauses (ii) and (iii) of
subparagraph (A) $55,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2022 through 2026.''.
SEC. 4. ADVANCED NUCLEAR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENT
SUBPROGRAM.
Section 954(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16274(a)), as amended by section 3, is further amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (8) as
paragraphs (6) through (9), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) Advanced nuclear research infrastructure
enhancement.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a
subprogram to be known as the Advanced Nuclear Research
Infrastructure Enhancement Subprogram in order to--
``(i) demonstrate various advanced nuclear
reactor and nuclear microreactor concepts;
``(ii) establish medical isotope production
reactors or other specialized applications; and
``(iii) advance other research
infrastructure that, in the determination of
the Secretary, is consistent with the mission
of the Department.
``(B) New nuclear science and engineering
facilities.--In carrying out the subprogram, the
Secretary shall establish--
``(i) not more than 4 new research
reactors; and
``(ii) new nuclear science and engineering
facilities, as required to address research
demand and identified infrastructure gaps.
``(C) Locations.--New research reactors and
facilities established under subparagraph (B) shall be
established in a manner that--
``(i) supports the regional or subregional
consortia described in paragraph (4)(C); and
``(ii) encourages the participation of--
``(I) historically Black colleges
and universities;
``(II) Tribal colleges or
universities;
``(III) minority-serving
institutions;
``(IV) EPSCoR universities;
``(V) junior or community colleges;
and
``(VI) associate-degree-granting
colleges.
``(D) Authorization of appropriations.--Of any
amounts appropriated to carry out the program under
this subsection, there are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the
subprogram under this paragraph--
``(i) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(ii) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
``(iii) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
``(iv) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(v) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(vi) $140,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(vii) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
and
``(viii) $80,000,000 for fiscal year
2029.''; and
(3) by amending paragraph (9), as redesignated by paragraph
(1) of this subsection, to read as follows:
``(9) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Associate-degree-granting college.--The term
`associate-degree-granting college' means an
institution of higher education (as determined under
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001)) that--
``(i) is a nonprofit institution that
offers a 2-year associate-degree program or a
2-year certificate program; or
``(ii) is a proprietary institution that
offers a 2-year associate degree program.
``(B) Junior faculty.--The term `junior faculty'
means a faculty member who was awarded a doctorate less
than 10 years before receipt of an award from the grant
program described in paragraph (2)(B).
``(C) Junior or community college.--The term
`junior or community college' has the meaning given the
term in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1058).
``(D) EPSCoR university.--The term `EPSCoR
university' means an institution of higher education
located in a State eligible to participate in the
program defined in section 502 of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p note).
``(E) Historically black college or university.--
The term `historically Black college or university' has
the meaning given the term `part B institution' in
section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1061).
``(F) Minority-serving institution.--The term
`minority-serving institution' means a Hispanic-serving
institution, an Alaska Native-serving institution, a
Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, a Predominantly
Black Institution, an Asian American and Native
American Pacific Islander-serving institution, or a
Native American-serving nontribal institution as
described in section 371 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
``(G) Tribal college or university.--The term
`Tribal college or university' has the meaning given
such term in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c).''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 117-466.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 117-466.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 362.
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