[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 743. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title XXXI, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. PROGRAM FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED 
                   NAVAL NUCLEAR FUEL SYSTEM BASED ON LOW-ENRICHED 
                   URANIUM.

       (a) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator for Nuclear 
     Security shall establish a program to assess the viability of 
     using low-enriched uranium in naval nuclear propulsion 
     reactors, including such reactors located on aircraft 
     carriers and submarines, that meet the requirements of the 
     Navy.
       (b) Activities.--In carrying out the program under 
     subsection (a), the Administrator shall carry out activities 
     to develop an advanced naval nuclear fuel system based on 
     low-enriched uranium, including activities relating to--
       (1) down-blending of high-enriched uranium into low-
     enriched uranium;
       (2) manufacturing of candidate advanced low-enriched 
     uranium fuels;
       (3) irradiation tests and post-irradiation examination of 
     these fuels;
       (4) modification or procurement of equipment and 
     infrastructure relating to such activities; and
       (5) designing naval propulsion reactors that incorporate 
     candidate advanced low enriched uranium fuels.
       (c) Submission of Plan.--Not later than 120 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
     submit to the congressional defense committees a plan 
     outlining the activities the Administrator will carry out 
     under the program established under subsection (a), including 
     the funding requirements associated with developing a low-
     enriched uranium fuel.
       (d) Report on Performance Impact of Low-enriched Uranium 
     Reactor Core Size.--Not later than December 15, 2023, the 
     Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
     Navy, shall prepare and submit to the congressional defense 
     committees a report assessing the feasibility and performance 
     impact of a Virginia-Class replacement nuclear powered attack 
     submarine that retains the anticipated hull diameter and 
     power plant design, but leaves sufficient space for a low-
     enriched uranium-fueled reactor with a life of the ship core, 
     possibly with an increased module length. The report shall 
     assess the impact on vessel performance of the increased core 
     size over the range of potential low-enriched uranium fuel 
     packing densities discussed in the November 2016 JASON report 
     JSR-16-Task-013, and compare this with the performance impact 
     of recent adjustments of vessel lengths such as that from the 
     Virginia Payload Module.
       (e) Funding.--
       (1) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the 
     funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be 
     appropriated by this title for the National Nuclear Security 
     Administration, as specified in the corresponding funding 
     table in division D, for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, 
     Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D, Nuclear Fuels 
     Development is hereby increased by $20,000,000 for the 
     purpose of LEU Research and Development for Naval Pressurized 
     Water Reactors.
       (2) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the 
     funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be 
     appropriated by this title for the National Nuclear Security 
     Administration, as specified in the corresponding funding 
     table in division D, for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation is 
     hereby reduced--
       (A) by $10,000,000 for the amount for nuclear smuggling 
     detection and deterrence; and
       (B) by $10,000,000 for the amount for nuclear detonation 
     detection.
                                 ______