Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act
Floor Speech
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Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1042) to prohibit the importation into the United States of unirradiated low-enriched uranium that is produced in the Russian Federation, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1042
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act''. SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON IMPORTS OF LOW-ENRICHED URANIUM FROM THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.
(a) Prohibition on Imports.--Section 3112A of the USEC Privatization Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h-10a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Prohibition on Imports of Low-enriched Uranium.--
``(1) Prohibition.--Beginning on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the following may not be imported into the United States:
``(A) Unirradiated low-enriched uranium that is produced in the Russian Federation or by a Russian entity.
``(B) Unirradiated low-enriched uranium that is determined to have been exchanged with, swapped for, or otherwise obtained in lieu of unirradiated low-enriched uranium described in subparagraph (A) in a manner designed to circumvent the restrictions under this section.
``(2) Waiver.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, may waive the application of paragraph (1) to authorize the importation of low-enriched uranium described in that paragraph if the Secretary of Energy determines that--
``(i) no alternative viable source of low-enriched uranium is available to sustain the continued operation of a nuclear reactor or a United States nuclear energy company; or
``(ii) importation of low-enriched uranium described in paragraph (1) is in the national interest.
``(B) Limitation on amounts of imports of low-enriched uranium.--
``(i) In general.--The importation into the United States of low-enriched uranium described in paragraph (1), including low-enriched uranium obtained under contracts for separative work units, whether or not such low-enriched uranium is derived from highly enriched uranium of weapons origin, may not exceed--
``(I) in calendar year 2024, 476,536 kilograms;
``(II) in calendar year 2025, 470,376 kilograms;
``(III) in calendar year 2026, 464,183 kilograms; and
``(IV) in calendar year 2027, 459,083 kilograms.
``(ii) Administration.--The Secretary of Commerce shall--
``(I) administer the import limitations described in clause (i) in accordance with the provisions of the Suspension Agreement, including the provisions described in subsection (c)(2)(B)(i);
``(II) be responsible for enforcing the import limitations described in clause (i); and
``(III) enforce the import limitations described in clause (i) in a manner that imposes a minimal burden on the commercial nuclear industry.
``(C) Termination.--Any waiver issued under subparagraph (A) shall terminate not later than January 1, 2028.
``(D) Notification to congress.--
``(i) In general.--Upon issuing a waiver under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the committees specified in clause (ii) a notification that a waiver has been issued, which shall include identification of the recipient of the waiver.
``(ii) Committees specified.--The committees specified in this clause are--
``(I) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
``(II) the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.
``(3) Applicability.--This subsection does not apply to imports--
``(A) by or under contract to the Department of Energy for national security or nonproliferation purposes; or
``(B) of non-uranium isotopes.
``(4) Termination.--The provisions of this subsection shall terminate on December 31, 2040.
``(5) Russian entity defined.--In this subsection, the term `Russian entity' means an entity organized under the laws of or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Government of the Russian Federation.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) In general.--Section 3112A(c) of the USEC Privatization Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h-10a(c)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in clause (ix), by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the end;
(II) in clause (x), by striking the semicolon and inserting a period; and
(III) by striking clauses (xi) through (xxvii); and
(ii) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``paragraph (10)'' and inserting ``paragraph (9)'';
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``United States'' and all that follows through ``for processing'' and inserting ``United States for processing'';
(C) by striking paragraph (5);
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (12) as paragraphs (5) through (11), respectively;
(E) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by subparagraph (D), by striking ``In addition to the adjustment under paragraph (5)(A), the'' and inserting ``The'';
(F) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking ``paragraph (10)'' and inserting ``paragraph (9)'';
(G) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by striking ``December 31, 2040'' and inserting ``the date described in subsection (d)(1)''; and
(H) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (9), as so redesignated, by striking ``paragraphs (2)(C) and (8)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (2)(C) and (7)''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment to section 3112A(c)(2)(A)(xi) of the USEC Privatization Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h-10a(c)(2)(A)(xi)) made by paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 1042, the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, which I introduced with Mr. Latta.
American leadership in nuclear energy and nuclear technology is critical to our economic and national security. One of the most urgent security threats America faces right now is our dangerous reliance on Russia's supply of nuclear fuels for our nuclear fleet. This threat has intensified as a result of the war in Ukraine.
American nuclear fuel infrastructure has been stunted by policies that Russia has exploited by flooding the U.S. market with this cheaper fuel. Today that accounts for more than 20 percent of our nuclear fuels for American reactors.
Last year alone, our industry paid over $800 million to Russia's state-owned nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom and its fuel subsidiaries. That number could be even higher this year, and these resources are no doubt going towards funding Putin's war efforts in Ukraine.
Further, we have seen how Putin has weaponized Europe's reliance on Russian natural gas. There is no reason to believe that Russia wouldn't do the same with our nuclear fuel supply if Putin saw an opportunity.
Rosatom has also supported China's nuclear energy ambitions. The risks of continuing this dependence on Russia for our nuclear fuel are simply too great. It is weakening America's nuclear fuel infrastructure, which has significantly declined because of the reliance on these cheap fuels.
That is why I am leading H.R. 1042.
Our bill bans fuel imports from Russia and sends a strong signal to the market that will help ensure America's nuclear leadership and fuel infrastructure. Our legislation also provides waivers to cover any supply gaps leading up to 2028, at which point no more Russian fuel will be allowed to be imported into the U.S.
This bill both protects any short-term needs of the industry and provides the long-term certainty necessary to build out American capacity, as well as European capacity that serves our markets.
H.R. It also has support from the nuclear industry, the nuclear fuels industry, and policy advocates.
Additionally, the Biden administration has also said that a ban on Russian fuels is necessary to advance our domestic fuel build-out, including the fuels for advanced reactors.
Across Europe, utility providers are starting to transition away from Russian fuels, announce new capacity, and invest in plant projects. We are seeing important fuel processes returning online in the United States.
For example, the uranium conversion facility in Metropolis, Illinois, has restarted operations for the first time in years. That facility alone could meet the domestic uranium conversion needs within 2 years, but only if they have assurances that cheap Russian fuel won't undercut their business.
The reality is, no facility owner is going to be able to invest to expand production capacity without the certainty of long-term contracts for their products. Those long-term contracts from fuel customers, the utility companies, will not be written if there remains uncertainty about Russian fuel continuing to flow into the United States, and the risk that Russia will once again be able to flood the market with cheaper products.
H.R. 1042 provides those assurances to industry.
American leadership in nuclear energy and nuclear technology is critical to our economic, energy, and national security, and a strong domestic nuclear fuel system, from mining to enrichment, is vital to our leadership.
In the U.S. alone, nuclear energy provides nearly 20 percent of our electricity generation, all of which is emissions free.
Nuclear plants operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, making them one of the most reliable, zero-carbon, baseload energy resources.
H.R. 1042 will protect the short-term needs of the nuclear industry and provide the long-term certainty necessary to encourage investment and secure a durable domestic supply of fuel.
I urge my colleagues to support the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act to restore our industry and take down Russia's nuclear fuel empire.
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Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I, too, urge support for this bill. I am pleased we have been able to come together to move this legislation forward, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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