[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4378 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4378

 To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out the construction of a 
  versatile reactor-based fast neutron source, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 13, 2017

 Mr. Weber of Texas (for himself, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, 
    Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Knight, and Mr. Hultgren) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                     Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out the construction of a 
  versatile reactor-based fast neutron source, 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 ``Nuclear Energy Research 
Infrastructure Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. VERSATILE NEUTRON SOURCE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall provide for a 
versatile reactor-based fast neutron source, which shall operate as a 
national user facility. The Secretary shall consult with the private 
sector, universities, National Laboratories, and relevant Federal 
agencies to ensure that the versatile neutron source is capable of 
meeting Federal research needs for neutron irradiation services.
    (b) Facility Capabilities.--
            (1) Capabilities.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        facility described in subsection (a) will provide, at a 
        minimum, the following capabilities:
                    (A) Fast neutron spectrum irradiation capability.
                    (B) Capacity for upgrades to accommodate new or 
                expanded research needs.
            (2) Considerations.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall consider the following:
                    (A) Capabilities that support experimental high-
                temperature testing.
                    (B) Providing a source of fast neutrons at a 
                neutron flux higher than that at which existing 
                research facilities operate, sufficient to enable 
                research for an optimal base of prospective users.
                    (C) Maximizing irradiation flexibility and 
                irradiation volume to accommodate as many concurrent 
                users as possible.
                    (D) Capabilities for irradiation with neutrons of a 
                lower energy spectrum.
                    (E) Multiple loops for fuels and materials testing 
                of different coolants.
                    (F) Capabilities that support irradiating and 
                processing targets for isotope production.
                    (G) Additional pre-irradiation and post-irradiation 
                examination capabilities.
                    (H) Lifetime operating costs and lifecycle costs.
    (c) Start of Operations.--The Secretary shall, to the maximum 
extent practicable, ensure that the start of full operations of the 
facility under this section occurs before December 31, 2025.
    (d) Funding.--Out of funds appropriated to the Office of Nuclear 
Energy, there shall be made available to the Secretary to carry out 
activities, including design and construction of the facility, under 
this section--
            (1) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;
            (2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2019;
            (3) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
            (4) $260,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
            (5) $340,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
            (6) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
            (7) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
            (8) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
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