[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8129 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8129

    To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out an initiative to 
encourage States to enhance the dissemination of nuclear information at 
                certain schools, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 26, 2024

 Mr. Donalds (for himself, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Norman, Mr. Williams of 
   New York, and Mr. Nehls) introduced the following bill; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out an initiative to 
encourage States to enhance the dissemination of nuclear information at 
                certain schools, 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 ``American Nuclear Workforce Act''.

SEC. 2. NUCLEAR EDUCATION INITIATIVE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish and 
carry out an initiative to encourage States to enhance the 
dissemination of nuclear science and technology information at covered 
schools.
    (b) Degrees.--In carrying out the initiative established under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall encourage States to work 
with institutions of higher education that are covered schools, to, as 
appropriate, incorporate degrees that may be relevant in the nuclear 
energy industry, including degrees in environmental science, biology, 
chemistry, nuclear engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical 
engineering, civil engineering, systems engineering, radiochemistry, 
applied and engineering physics, materials science, and occupational 
safety and health.
    (c) Tours and Outreach.--In carrying out the initiative established 
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall encourage--
            (1) covered schools to engage with local nuclear power 
        plants to provide students with tours of such nuclear power 
        plants to learn about nuclear energy firsthand; and
            (2) relevant nuclear stakeholders to engage with covered 
        schools about potential professional opportunities within the 
        nuclear industry, including by providing information regarding 
        paid and unpaid internships, scholarships, apprenticeships, 
        fellowships, and other experiential opportunities.
    (d) Nuclear Energy University Program.--The Secretary of Energy 
shall, to the extent practicable, carry out the initiative established 
under subsection (a) in conjunction with the Nuclear Energy University 
Program of the Department of Energy.
    (e) Consideration.--In establishing and carrying out the initiative 
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall take into 
consideration the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Uniform 
Curriculum Program Guide.
    (f) Mentorship Program.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out the initiative established 
        under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall establish 
        and carry out a mentorship program to pair volunteers who are 
        employed in the nuclear industry with students in covered 
        schools, including for virtual teleconference mentorship 
        opportunities.
            (2) Procedures.--In carrying out the mentorship program 
        established under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Energy shall 
        establish procedures to appropriately pair students with 
        volunteers, based on career interest, geographic location, or 
        any other consideration the Secretary determines appropriate.
            (3) Consideration.--In carrying out the mentorship program 
        established under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Energy shall 
        consider any ongoing efforts to establish, or already 
        established, mentorship programs or opportunities that may be 
        relevant and could be utilized.
    (g) Research and Test Reactors.--In carrying out the initiative 
established under subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall 
encourage States to work with institutions of higher education that 
have a research and test reactor on campus to continue to use the 
research and test reactor--
            (1) to assist in preparing students for careers in the 
        nuclear workforce, including careers at nuclear power plants 
        and in the nuclear energy supply chain; and
            (2) to help inform the general student body about nuclear 
        energy.
    (h) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Covered school.--The term ``covered school'' means--
                    (A) an institution of higher education or a 
                secondary school that is located within approximately 
                25 miles (or such distance as the Secretary of Energy 
                determines appropriate) of--
                            (i) a commercially operating nuclear power 
                        plant; or
                            (ii) the headquarters for a nuclear reactor 
                        developer; or
                    (B) any other institution of higher education or 
                secondary school that the Secretary of Energy 
                determines appropriate.
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 or 102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002(a)(1)(B)).
            (3) Research and test reactor.--The term ``research and 
        test reactor'' has the meaning given such term in section 3(11) 
        of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42 
        U.S.C. 2215 note).
            (4) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 8101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
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