International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025

This bill establishes a whole-of-government strategy for international civil nuclear cooperation and exports, creating coordination offices, launching initiatives with partner nations, and authorizing financial assistance to help countries develop civil nuclear programs.

Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines key terms including "advanced nuclear reactor" (covering advanced fission reactors, 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."

Sec. 3, Civil Nuclear Coordination and Strategy: Expresses the sense of Congress that a White House focal point should coordinate international civil nuclear policy, and that the President should designate an Office of the Assistant to the President and Director for International Nuclear Energy Export Policy within the National Energy Dominance Council to develop whole-of-government strategies for civil nuclear cooperation and exports.

Sec. 4, Engagement with Ally or Partner Nations: Requires the President to launch an international initiative to modernize civil nuclear outreach to countries starting nuclear programs, including establishing cooperative financing relationships, providing education and training on nuclear safety and security, and coordinating with federal agencies to expand outreach to private investors.

Sec. 5, Cooperative Financing Relationships: Directs the President to designate a White House official to develop financing relationships with ally or partner nations to help countries adopt U.S.-exported civil nuclear technologies, and requires consideration of U.S. competitiveness clauses in such financing arrangements.

Sec. 6, Cooperation on Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration: Requires the Secretary of State, within two years, to conduct meetings with at least five ally or partner nations to enhance cooperation on research, licensing, and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, and to develop financing arrangements to share costs.

Sec. 7, International Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation: Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expand the Secretary of Energy's authority to support safe civil nuclear technology use in countries developing nuclear programs, with a focus on countries 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: Requires the Secretary of State to launch an initiative within 120 days to provide financial assistance (grants up to $5.5 million, limited to one per country per year and five total per country) and technical capacity building to countries starting civil nuclear programs, including funding for senior advisors from U.S. nuclear energy companies.

Sec. 9, Biennial Cabinet-Level International Conference: Requires the President to hold a biennial conference on civil nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability, which should serve as a forum for ally or partner nations to develop joint commitments, cooperative financing, standardized frameworks, and strategies to counter Chinese and Russian financing.

Sec. 10, Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center: Directs the President to consider establishing a center to help countries develop civil nuclear programs by identifying service providers, coordinating funds, developing standardized models, and supporting multinational regulatory standards.

Sec. 11, Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group: Establishes a working group led by a White House official to advise on creating a Strategic Infrastructure Fund to support capital-intensive projects involving civil nuclear technologies and microprocessors.

Sec. 12, Joint Assessment with India on Nuclear Liability Rules: 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 report to Congress annually for five years.

Sec. 13, Rule of Construction: States that nothing in the bill alters the interpretation or implementation of section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 or any other law, including requirements for congressional consideration of agreements.

Sec. 14, Sunset: The Act and its amendments expire 20 years after enactment.