Sen. Husted and Sen. Whitehouse Push Bipartisan Bill to Speed Up Nuclear Fuel Recycling
The Nuclear REFUEL Act of 2025 has been approved by the Senate committee and is now waiting for a full vote by the Senate. It is currently placed on the legislative calendar and is actively moving forward. There are no other specific actions scheduled at this time.
The bill has strong bipartisan support and has already cleared a major committee hurdle without any changes or opposition.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Companies developing advanced nuclear fuel recycling technology would face a lighter regulatory path. Instead of needing a full "production facility" license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, qualifying recycling operations could use a simpler licensing process, saving time and money for startups and smaller firms trying to enter this market.
“To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to modify the definition of ``production facility'' to exclude an equipment or device capable of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel in a manner that does not separate plutonium from other transuranic elements.”
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 224.
The bill is now on the schedule for the full chamber to consider. It's in line for debate and a vote.
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Capito without amendment. Without written report.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is scheduled to vote on the 'Nuclear REFUEL Act' (S. 2082). The bill aims to bolster nuclear waste recycling projects to provide fuel for advanced reactors by requiring the NRC to approve facilities under a streamlined Part 70 licensing process.
The Senate EPW Committee advanced the Nuclear REFUEL Act, which clarifies the licensing regime for recycling facilities that do not separate plutonium. The bill specifies that uranium-transuranic facilities would be licensed under Part 70 rather than the more complex Part 50 reactor framework.
The Nuclear REFUEL Act has bipartisan support and aims to adjust the regulatory framework to unleash the nuclear recycling industry. By reprocessing waste via pyroprocessing, the U.S. could unlock massive energy reserves while reducing waste volume by 90 percent.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Nuclear REFUEL Act of 2025
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