S. 512Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act

1 recorded action154 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: John Barrasso [R-WY]
Cosponsors: 18 · 10 Republicans · 8 Democrats
Policy area: Energy
Committee: Environment and Public Works Committee
Latest action: Jan 14, 2019 · Became Public Law No: 115-439.

IntroducedMar 2, 2017
Passed the SenateDec 20, 2018
Passed the HouseDec 21, 2018
Sent to the PresidentJan 2, 2019
Became lawJan 14, 2019

What the measure doesCRS summary

Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act

This bill revises the budget and fee structure of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and requires the NRC to develop new processes for licensing nuclear reactors, including staged licensing of advanced nuclear reactors.

TITLE I--ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTORS AND USER FEES

(Sec. 101) The bill amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to remove amounts appropriated for the development of regulations for advanced nuclear reactor technologies from the amount the NRC must recover through fees.

(Sec. 102) Effective FY2021, the bill:

excludes additional amounts from the amount the NRC must recover through fees, including amounts for research and development at universities;

directs the NRC to collect fees equal to its budget authority, less excluded amounts;
limits NRC's spending on corporate support costs; and
places a cap on the amount of the annual fee that may be charged to an operating reactor, which the NRC may waive if the cap compromises the NRC's safety and security mission.

Performance metrics and milestone schedules must be developed for activities requested by applicants and licensees. In addition, the NRC must implement processes to ensure accurate invoicing.

(Sec. 103) For commercial advanced nuclear reactors, the NRC must (1) establish stages within the licensing process; (2) increase the use of risk-informed, performance-based licensing evaluation techniques and guidance; and (3) establish by the end of 2027 a technology-inclusive regulatory framework that encourages greater technological innovation.

The NRC must develop research and test reactor licensing.

The NRC is also directed to train staff and develop the expertise required to implement the new licensing processes.

The NRC must report to Congress on (1) the implementation of stages in the advanced reactor licensing process, and (2) the use of risk-informed and performance-based techniques within the existing regulatory framework.

(Sec. 104) The NRC must publish any necessary revisions to the guidance on the examination schedule for baffle-former bolts in certain reactors.

(Sec. 105) The NRC must submit to Congress a report describing the actions it has taken, or plans to take, to consider lessons learned from recent disasters regarding directed or spontaneous evacuations in densely populated urban and suburban areas.

(Sec. 106) The bill increases the percentage of operating costs that research reactors are allowed to recover from 50% to 75%, with up to 50% coming from energy sales.

How every member votedHouse roll call 493

House Dec 21, 2018

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass

Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act

Passed · Two-thirds required

361 Yea 10 Nay 61 not voting

Crossed both parties 10 of 371 voting members broke with their own party: 4 Democrats, 6 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members432 members

Democratic197 members

Republican235 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors18 · 10 Republicans · 8 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor S. 512 and vote against it. 7 signed when it was filed.

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on S. 51251 organizations

Organizations that named S. 512 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

FIRSTENERGY CORPIts PAC: Firstenergy Corp PAC

Transportation · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Natural Resources · Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV +7 more19 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2018Filing

SOUTHERN COMPANYIts PAC: Southern Co. Employees PAC

Environment/Superfund · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Utilities +8 more18 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

ENTERGY SERVICES LLCfiled by ENTERGY SERVICES, LLC, TIBER CREEK GROUP, OWEN EVANS INGOLS, FORBES-TATE

Environment/Superfund · Energy/Nuclear · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Budget/Appropriations +8 more17 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

CLEARPATH ACTION FUND FOR CONSERVATIVE CLEAN ENERGY, INC.filed by CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Energy/Nuclear16 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

CAMECO CORPORATIONfiled by DENTONS US LLP, CAMECO CORPORATION

Energy/Nuclear · Trade (domestic/foreign) · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Natural Resources10 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

DUKE ENERGY CORPORATIONIts PAC: Duke Energy Corp. Employee PAC

Telecommunications · Fuel/Gas/Oil · Trade (domestic/foreign) · Defense +12 more10 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

DOMINION ENERGY INCfiled by DOMINION ENERGY, INC.Its PAC: Dominion Energy, Inc. PAC - Dominion PAC

Defense · Transportation · Energy/Nuclear · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code +5 more9 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION (NRECA)

Agriculture · Retirement · Banking · Foreign Relations +14 more9 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2018Filing

AMERICAN NUCLEAR SOCIETYfiled by BOSE PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP

Science/Technology · Budget/Appropriations · Homeland Security · Energy/Nuclear +1 more8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

COUNCIL ON RADIONUCLIDES AND RADIOPHARMACEUTICALSfiled by JIM MASSIE & PARTNERS, LLC

Energy/Nuclear8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

296 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.