[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 90 (Monday, May 24, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3348-S3349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1931. Mr. MANCHIN (for himself and Mr. Barrasso) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr. 
Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to establish a new Directorate for 
Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, to 
establish a regional technology hub program, to require a strategy and 
report on economic security, science, research, innovation, 
manufacturing, and job creation, to establish a critical supply chain 
resiliency program, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in title V of division B, insert 
     the following:

     SEC. 25__. UNIVERSITY INFRASTRUCTURE REVITALIZATION PROGRAM.

       (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
       (1) to upgrade and expand nuclear research capabilities of 
     universities in the United States to meet the research 
     requirements of advanced nuclear energy systems;
       (2) to establish regional nuclear innovation hubs and 
     university-led consortia to support innovation in nuclear 
     science and engineering and related disciplines; and

[[Page S3349]]

       (3) to ensure the continued operation of university 
     research reactors.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Advanced nuclear reactor.--The term ``advanced nuclear 
     reactor'' has the meaning given the term in section 951(b) of 
     the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271(b)).
       (2) EPSCoR university.--The term ``EPSCoR university'' 
     means an institution of higher education that participates in 
     the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research 
     Federal-State partnership program designed to enhance the 
     capabilities of universities to conduct sustainable and 
     nationally competitive energy-related research administered 
     by the Department of Energy.
       (3) 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).
       (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (5) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
     serving institution'' has the meaning given the term 
     ``minority institution'' in section 365 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k).
       (6) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' 
     has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy 
     Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
       (7) Program.--The term ``program'' means the University 
     Infrastructure Revitalization Program established under 
     subsection (c).
       (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy.
       (c) Establishment of Program.--Not later than 120 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
     establish a program, to be known as the ``University 
     Infrastructure Revitalization Program'', to promote 
     collaborations, partnerships, and knowledge sharing between 
     institutions of higher education, including EPSCoR 
     universities, historically Black colleges and universities, 
     and minority-serving institutions, National Laboratories, 
     industry, and associated labor unions with the mission to 
     revitalize and upgrade existing nuclear science and 
     engineering infrastructure and develop new capabilities and 
     expertise to support the development of advanced nuclear 
     reactor technologies and applications.
       (d) Consortia.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary 
     shall establish university-led consortia comprised of 
     institutions of higher education, including EPSCoR 
     universities, historically Black colleges and universities, 
     and minority-serving institutions, National Laboratories, 
     industry, and associated labor unions to enhance university-
     based nuclear science and engineering infrastructure.
       (2) Activities.--The Secretary shall competitively award to 
     consortia established under paragraph (1) awards--
       (A) to enhance existing capabilities and establish new 
     capabilities and expertise;
       (B) to provide project management services and support, 
     technical support, quality engineering and inspections, and 
     nuclear material support to--
       (i) existing university nuclear science and engineering 
     programs in the United States as of the date of enactment of 
     this Act;
       (ii) the 25 existing research reactors at universities in 
     the United States as of the date of enactment of this Act; 
     and
       (iii) new and emerging nuclear science and engineering 
     programs at institutions of higher education, including--

       (I) EPSCoR universities;
       (II) historically Black colleges and universities; and
       (III) minority-serving institutions.

       (e) Funding.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
     Act, of the amounts authorized in section 2117(a), 
     $50,000,000 is authorized for each of fiscal years 2022 
     through 2026 to carry out this section.
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