[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 25, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3344-S3345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself, Mr. Bingaman, and Ms. 
        Murkowski):
  S. 1067. A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the 
Secretary of Energy to carry out a research and development and 
demonstration program to reduce manufacturing and construction costs 
relating to nuclear reactors, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the 
role safe nuclear energy can play in moving our country toward a more 
secure energy future.
  Given the economic, national security, and environmental threats that 
we face, we need a comprehensive energy policy. In this regard, safe 
nuclear energy clearly has emerged as an important player in our search 
for stable and domestic energy sources with fewer greenhouse gas 
emissions.
  A cleaner energy economy will spur innovation in, and accelerate the 
shift to, clean and domestic energy sources. It will create a new 
industrial sector employing millions of Americans in the research, 
development, and commercialization of new energy technologies. And it 
will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil from unstable regions of 
the world and cleaner energy technologies will help us get there.
  Finally, as we try to emerge from perhaps our greatest economic 
crisis since the Great Depression, we need an ``all of the above'' 
solution to jump-start our economy and create new jobs. Beyond 
renewables and natural gas, this also means next generation nuclear 
energy.
  That is why I am introducing the bipartisan Nuclear Energy Research 
Initiative Improvement Act today. This bill would authorize the 
Department of Energy to carry out a research, development, and 
demonstration program to reduce manufacturing and construction costs of 
safe nuclear reactors. It would support research in areas critical for 
us to achieve these goals, while also protecting national security. For 
example, it would support research into: modular and small-scale 
reactors, balance-of-plant issues, cost-efficient manufacturing, 
licensing issues, and enhanced proliferation controls.
  In light of the disaster at the Daiichi nuclear facility in Japan, it 
is evident a new era of safe nuclear energy development is needed: one 
with enhanced safeguards and more agile manufacturing and operating 
capabilities. My bill seeks to achieve those objectives.
  Nuclear power's energy security and environmental benefits have 
earned this industry an important place at the table. It is my hope 
that we can build new, safe nuclear plants over the next decade to 
create jobs and build a cleaner, more secure tomorrow. My bill would 
help us accomplish these goals.
  I would like to thank Senator Bingaman and Senator Murkowski for 
joining me in introducing this bill.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1067

       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 
     Initiative Improvement Act of 2011''.

     SEC. 2. NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

       Section 952(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
     16272(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary;''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Authorized research initiatives.--In carrying out the 
     program under this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct 
     research to lower the cost of nuclear reactor systems, 
     including research regarding--
       ``(A) modular and small-scale reactors;
       ``(B) balance-of-plant issues;
       ``(C) cost-efficient manufacturing and construction;
       ``(D) licensing issues; and
       ``(E) enhanced proliferation controls.
       ``(3) Consultation requirement.--In carrying out 
     initiatives under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall consult 
     with--
       ``(A) the Secretary of Commerce;
       ``(B) the Secretary of the Treasury;
       ``(C) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and
       ``(D) any other individual who the Secretary determines to 
     be necessary.
       ``(4) Schedule.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall develop 
     and publish on the website of the Department of Energy a 
     schedule that contains an outline of a 5-year strategy to 
     lower effectively the costs of nuclear reactors.
       ``(B) Public workshops.--In developing the schedule under 
     subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall conduct public 
     workshops to provide an opportunity for public comment.
       ``(C) Review.--Before the date on which the Secretary 
     publishes the schedule under subparagraph (A), the Nuclear 
     Energy Advisory Committee shall conduct a review of the 
     schedule.
       ``(D) Annual updates.--

[[Page S3345]]

       ``(i) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     on which the Secretary publishes the schedule under 
     subparagraph (A) and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
     update the schedule.
       ``(ii) Public workshops.--In updating the schedule under 
     clause (i), the Secretary shall conduct public workshops in 
     accordance with subparagraph (B).
       ``(5) Cost sharing.--Section 988 shall apply to initiatives 
     carried out under this section.
       ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016.''.
                                 ______