International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025

This bill establishes a whole-of-government strategy to coordinate U.S. civil nuclear cooperation and exports, focusing on engaging ally or partner nations and embarking civil nuclear nations to promote U.S. nuclear technologies and counter influence from Russia and China.

Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines key terms including 'advanced nuclear reactor' (fission reactors with significant improvements, fusion reactors, and radioisotope power systems), 'ally or partner nation' (OECD members, India, and countries designated by the Secretary of State), and 'appropriate committees of Congress' (Senate Foreign Relations and Energy committees, House Foreign Affairs and Energy committees).

Sec. 3, Civil Nuclear Coordination and Strategy: Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should establish a White House Office of the Assistant to the President and Director for International Nuclear Energy Policy to coordinate international civil nuclear cooperation and export strategy, develop a whole-of-government strategy for civil nuclear cooperation and exports, and support foreign investment in U.S.-backed civil nuclear projects.

Sec. 4, Engagement with Ally or Partner Nations: Directs the President to launch an international initiative to modernize civil nuclear outreach to embarking civil nuclear nations, including establishing cooperative financing relationships for exports and assisting nongovernmental organizations and federal agencies in providing education and training on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards.

Sec. 5, Cooperative Financing Relationships with Ally or Partner Nations and Embarking Civil Nuclear Nations: Requires the President to designate a White House official and the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to develop financing relationships with ally or partner nations to help adopt U.S.-exported civil nuclear technologies, and to consider the impact of U.S. competitiveness clauses on those relationships.

Sec. 6, Cooperation with Ally or Partner Nations on Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration: Requires the Secretary of State, within two years, to conduct bilateral and multilateral meetings with at least five ally or partner nations to enhance cooperation on research, development, licensing, and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, with a focus on U.S. companies and developing cost-sharing arrangements.

Sec. 7, International Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation: Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expand the Secretary's authority to support safe, secure, and peaceful use of civil nuclear technology in countries developing nuclear programs, especially those increasing cooperation with Russia or China, and to promote U.S. nuclear energy companies through bilateral arrangements and waivers of competition laws.

Sec. 8, International Civil Nuclear Program Support: Directs the Secretary of State to launch an initiative within 120 days to provide financial assistance (grants up to $5.5 million per grant, limited to one per country per year and five total per country) and senior advisors to embarking civil nuclear nations for developing civil nuclear programs.

Sec. 9, Biennial Cabinet-Level International Conference: Requires the President to hold a biennial conference on civil nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability, intended to reinforce commitments, develop joint goals, strengthen international institutions, and create standardized frameworks for financing, licensing, and liability.

Sec. 10, Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center: Directs the President to consider leveraging existing activities or establishing a center to identify qualified service providers for embarking civil nuclear nations, develop standardized models for civil nuclear programs, and support export, financing, and training requirements.

Sec. 11, Investment by Allies and Partners: Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to insert 'for a production facility' into license provisions, clarifying that commercial and medical therapy licenses are not required for production facilities.

Sec. 12, Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group: Establishes a working group led by a White House official to provide input on creating a program to support capital-intensive infrastructure projects, including civil nuclear technologies and microprocessors, and to report to the National Security Council.

Sec. 13, Joint Assessment between the United States and India: Requires the Secretary of State to establish a joint consultative mechanism within the U.S.-India Strategic Security Dialogue to assess implementation of the 2008 nuclear cooperation agreement, discuss aligning India's nuclear liability rules with international norms, and submit annual reports to Congress for five years.

Sec. 14, United States Small Modular Reactor Initiative: Authorizes $1,439,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, available until 2034, to support regulatory development, design, and demonstration of small modular reactor technology that is competitive against Russian and Chinese designs and uses low-enriched uranium fuel.