[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2596. Mr. WARNER (for himself, Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Kelly) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 
4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 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, insert the following:

     SEC. __. BRIEFING ON A SECOND PILOT PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED 
                   REACTORS.

       (a) Briefing Required.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
     shall provide to the Committee on Armed Services of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives a briefing describing the requirements for, 
     and components of, a pilot program to provide resilience for 
     critical national security infrastructure at Department of 
     Defense facilities with high energy intensity requirements by 
     contracting with a commercial entity to site, construct, and 
     operate at least one licensed reactor, capable of producing 
     at least 60 megawatts of power, at a facility selected for 
     purposes of the pilot program by December 31, 2029.
       (b) Contents.--The briefing submitted pursuant to 
     subsection (a) shall include the following:
       (1) An assessment of how a public-private partnership for 
     the reactor could reduce ratepayer costs and avoid financial 
     risk to the mission of the Department of Defense.
       (2) Identification of potential locations to site, 
     construct, and operate a reactor at either--
       (A) a commercial site that serves critical mission 
     interests of the Department; or
       (B) a Department facility that contains critical national 
     security infrastructure that the Secretary determines may not 
     be energy resilient.
       (3) Assessments of different nuclear technologies, 
     including technologies capable of producing at least 60 
     megawatts of power, to provide energy resiliency for critical 
     national security infrastructure.
       (4) A survey of potential commercial stakeholders with 
     which to enter into a contract under the pilot program to 
     construct and operate a licensed reactor and, if appropriate, 
     share offtake needs.
       (5) A description of options to enter into long-term 
     contracting, including various financial mechanisms for such 
     purpose.
       (6) Identification of requirements for reactors to provide 
     energy resilience to mission-critical functions at facilities 
     identified under paragraph (2).
       (7) An estimate of the costs of the pilot program.
       (8) A timeline with milestones for the pilot program.
       (9) An analysis of the existing authority of the Secretary 
     to permit the siting, construction, and operation of a 
     reactor, if different than authorities for micro-reactors.
       (10) Such recommendations for legislative or administrative 
     action as the Secretary determines necessary for the 
     Department to permit the siting, construction, or operation 
     of a reactor under the pilot program.
       (11) A strategy for deploying additional reactors at other 
     sites to increase the order book for such reactors, including 
     through public-private partnerships.
       (12) A plan for implementing the pilot program, to begin 
     implementation no later than three months after submission of 
     the report.
       (c) Consultation.--In preparing the briefing required by 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the 
     following:
       (1) The Secretary of Energy.
       (2) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
       (3) The Administrator of the General Services 
     Administration.
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