[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 203 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6760-H6762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PROHIBITING RUSSIAN URANIUM IMPORTS ACT

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 1042) to prohibit the importation into the 
United States of unirradiated low-enriched uranium that is produced in 
the Russian Federation, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1042

       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 ``Prohibiting Russian Uranium 
     Imports Act''.

     SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON IMPORTS OF LOW-ENRICHED URANIUM FROM 
                   THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

       (a) Prohibition on Imports.--Section 3112A of the USEC 
     Privatization Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h-10a) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(d) Prohibition on Imports of Low-enriched Uranium.--
       ``(1) Prohibition.--Beginning on the date that is 90 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and 
     subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the following may not be 
     imported into the United States:
       ``(A) Unirradiated low-enriched uranium that is produced in 
     the Russian Federation or by a Russian entity.
       ``(B) Unirradiated low-enriched uranium that is determined 
     to have been exchanged with, swapped for, or otherwise 
     obtained in lieu of unirradiated low-enriched uranium 
     described in subparagraph (A) in a manner designed to 
     circumvent the restrictions under this section.
       ``(2) Waiver.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), 
     the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary 
     of State and the Secretary of Commerce, may waive the 
     application of paragraph (1) to authorize the importation of 
     low-enriched uranium described in that paragraph if the 
     Secretary of Energy determines that--
       ``(i) no alternative viable source of low-enriched uranium 
     is available to sustain the continued operation of a nuclear 
     reactor or a United States nuclear energy company; or
       ``(ii) importation of low-enriched uranium described in 
     paragraph (1) is in the national interest.
       ``(B) Limitation on amounts of imports of low-enriched 
     uranium.--
       ``(i) In general.--The importation into the United States 
     of low-enriched uranium described in paragraph (1), including 
     low-enriched uranium obtained under contracts for separative 
     work units, whether or not such low-enriched uranium is 
     derived from highly enriched uranium of weapons origin, may 
     not exceed--

       ``(I) in calendar year 2024, 476,536 kilograms;
       ``(II) in calendar year 2025, 470,376 kilograms;
       ``(III) in calendar year 2026, 464,183 kilograms; and

[[Page H6761]]

       ``(IV) in calendar year 2027, 459,083 kilograms.

       ``(ii) Administration.--The Secretary of Commerce shall--

       ``(I) administer the import limitations described in clause 
     (i) in accordance with the provisions of the Suspension 
     Agreement, including the provisions described in subsection 
     (c)(2)(B)(i);
       ``(II) be responsible for enforcing the import limitations 
     described in clause (i); and
       ``(III) enforce the import limitations described in clause 
     (i) in a manner that imposes a minimal burden on the 
     commercial nuclear industry.

       ``(C) Termination.--Any waiver issued under subparagraph 
     (A) shall terminate not later than January 1, 2028.
       ``(D) Notification to congress.--
       ``(i) In general.--Upon issuing a waiver under subparagraph 
     (A), the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the committees 
     specified in clause (ii) a notification that a waiver has 
     been issued, which shall include identification of the 
     recipient of the waiver.
       ``(ii) Committees specified.--The committees specified in 
     this clause are--

       ``(I) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the 
     Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
       ``(II) the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the 
     Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.

       ``(3) Applicability.--This subsection does not apply to 
     imports--
       ``(A) by or under contract to the Department of Energy for 
     national security or nonproliferation purposes; or
       ``(B) of non-uranium isotopes.
       ``(4) Termination.--The provisions of this subsection shall 
     terminate on December 31, 2040.
       ``(5) Russian entity defined.--In this subsection, the term 
     `Russian entity' means an entity organized under the laws of 
     or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Government of 
     the Russian Federation.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) In general.--Section 3112A(c) of the USEC Privatization 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h-10a(c)) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A)--

       (I) in clause (ix), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon at the end;
       (II) in clause (x), by striking the semicolon and inserting 
     a period; and
       (III) by striking clauses (xi) through (xxvii); and

       (ii) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``paragraph (10)'' 
     and inserting ``paragraph (9)'';
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``United States'' and all 
     that follows through ``for processing'' and inserting 
     ``United States for processing'';
       (C) by striking paragraph (5);
       (D) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (12) as 
     paragraphs (5) through (11), respectively;
       (E) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by subparagraph (D), 
     by striking ``In addition to the adjustment under paragraph 
     (5)(A), the'' and inserting ``The'';
       (F) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (7), as so 
     redesignated, by striking ``paragraph (10)'' and inserting 
     ``paragraph (9)'';
       (G) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``December 31, 2040'' and inserting ``the date described in 
     subsection (d)(1)''; and
       (H) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (9), as so 
     redesignated, by striking ``paragraphs (2)(C) and (8)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraphs (2)(C) and (7)''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment to section 
     3112A(c)(2)(A)(xi) of the USEC Privatization Act (42 U.S.C. 
     2297h-10a(c)(2)(A)(xi)) made by paragraph (1)(A) of this 
     subsection shall take effect on the date that is 90 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bost). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) and the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on the 
bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 1042, the Prohibiting 
Russian Uranium Imports Act, which I introduced with Mr. Latta.
  American leadership in nuclear energy and nuclear technology is 
critical to our economic and national security. One of the most urgent 
security threats America faces right now is our dangerous reliance on 
Russia's supply of nuclear fuels for our nuclear fleet. This threat has 
intensified as a result of the war in Ukraine.
  American nuclear fuel infrastructure has been stunted by policies 
that Russia has exploited by flooding the U.S. market with this cheaper 
fuel. Today that accounts for more than 20 percent of our nuclear fuels 
for American reactors.
  Last year alone, our industry paid over $800 million to Russia's 
state-owned nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom and its fuel 
subsidiaries. That number could be even higher this year, and these 
resources are no doubt going towards funding Putin's war efforts in 
Ukraine.
  Further, we have seen how Putin has weaponized Europe's reliance on 
Russian natural gas. There is no reason to believe that Russia wouldn't 
do the same with our nuclear fuel supply if Putin saw an opportunity.
  Rosatom has also supported China's nuclear energy ambitions. The 
risks of continuing this dependence on Russia for our nuclear fuel are 
simply too great. It is weakening America's nuclear fuel 
infrastructure, which has significantly declined because of the 
reliance on these cheap fuels.
  That is why I am leading H.R. 1042.
  Our bill bans fuel imports from Russia and sends a strong signal to 
the market that will help ensure America's nuclear leadership and fuel 
infrastructure. Our legislation also provides waivers to cover any 
supply gaps leading up to 2028, at which point no more Russian fuel 
will be allowed to be imported into the U.S.
  This bill both protects any short-term needs of the industry and 
provides the long-term certainty necessary to build out American 
capacity, as well as European capacity that serves our markets.
  H.R. 1042 has bipartisan support from the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce. It also has support from the nuclear industry, the nuclear 
fuels industry, and policy advocates.
  Additionally, the Biden administration has also said that a ban on 
Russian fuels is necessary to advance our domestic fuel build-out, 
including the fuels for advanced reactors.
  Across Europe, utility providers are starting to transition away from 
Russian fuels, announce new capacity, and invest in plant projects. We 
are seeing important fuel processes returning online in the United 
States.
  For example, the uranium conversion facility in Metropolis, Illinois, 
has restarted operations for the first time in years. That facility 
alone could meet the domestic uranium conversion needs within 2 years, 
but only if they have assurances that cheap Russian fuel won't undercut 
their business.
  The reality is, no facility owner is going to be able to invest to 
expand production capacity without the certainty of long-term contracts 
for their products. Those long-term contracts from fuel customers, the 
utility companies, will not be written if there remains uncertainty 
about Russian fuel continuing to flow into the United States, and the 
risk that Russia will once again be able to flood the market with 
cheaper products.
  H.R. 1042 provides those assurances to industry.
  American leadership in nuclear energy and nuclear technology is 
critical to our economic, energy, and national security, and a strong 
domestic nuclear fuel system, from mining to enrichment, is vital to 
our leadership.
  In the U.S. alone, nuclear energy provides nearly 20 percent of our 
electricity generation, all of which is emissions free.
  Nuclear plants operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a 
year, making them one of the most reliable, zero-carbon, baseload 
energy resources.
  H.R. 1042 will protect the short-term needs of the nuclear industry 
and provide the long-term certainty necessary to encourage investment 
and secure a durable domestic supply of fuel.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Prohibiting Russian Uranium 
Imports Act to restore our industry and take down Russia's nuclear fuel 
empire.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1042, the Prohibiting Russian 
Uranium Imports Act.
  Our imports of Russian nuclear fuel date back to the megatons for 
megawatts disarmament program at the end of the Cold War. That program 
has been over for a decade now, and we have developed a dependence on 
Russian uranium.

[[Page H6762]]

  Our Nation's nuclear reactors currently depend on Russia for nearly 
15 percent of their enriched uranium.
  This is troubling because over the last 2 years we have seen how 
Russia tries to wield its energy resources as a weapon. It is simply 
unsustainable.
  I support ending our dangerous reliance on Russia for enriched 
uranium, but if we are serious about energy security, we cannot simply 
switch one foreign dependence for another. That is why we must invest 
in our own uranium fuel cycle here at home.

  Right now, we have limited fuel facilities to provide the nuclear 
fuel our existing fleet needs, much less the advanced fuels that future 
reactors will need. Any move we make to end our reliance on Russian 
uranium must be partnered with a build-out of our domestic uranium 
supply chain. Otherwise, any action would just increase cost to 
consumers and impact reliability.
  That is why in committee, Democrats attempted to partner this bill 
with authorizations to the Department of Energy to invest in U.S. 
domestic enrichment and conversion capacity. Unfortunately, those 
efforts were initially rejected by our Republican majority, therefore, 
I opposed this bill at that time.
  Fortunately, the committee has now advanced legislation that 
authorizes those investments in our domestic fuel cycle, and that 
language will be included in the final defense authorization bill.
  With that legislation set to become law, I am now much more 
comfortable moving this bill. After passage of the defense 
authorization bill, we must ensure these important programs are funded 
at the levels authorized so we can finally end our dangerous reliance 
on Russian uranium.
  The combination of banning imports of Russian uranium and investing 
in domestic capacity will provide private industry with both the 
certainty and the incentives it needs to invest in the nuclear fuel 
supply chain. This will help us become a world leader again, not just 
in fuel production for our current reactors, but in fuel production for 
the next generation of reactors, as well.
  I urge support for this bill, Mr. Speaker. I ask that we support this 
bill on a bipartisan basis. It is a good bill at this point, and we 
want to get it to the Senate as quickly as possible.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I, too, urge support for 
this bill. I am pleased we have been able to come together to move this 
legislation forward, and I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1600

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1042, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________