Biden Signs DeGette Nuclear Energy Bill into Law

WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy Subcommittee, joined President Joe Biden, Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), and Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) for the signing of the Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023. Included in this bill were measures written by Reps. DeGette and Duncan to modernize America’s nuclear energy production and workforce.

“Today marks a significant step forward for America's energy independence and environmental sustainability. Nuclear energy is not a silver bullet, but if we’re going to get to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, it must be part of the mix. With this bill signed into law, we are modernizing our nuclear energy production and investing in a highly skilled workforce to power the future while protecting our environment and supporting local communities,” Rep. DeGette said. “I am grateful to President Biden for signing this critical bill into law, which will help the United States ensure it harnesses the full potential of nuclear energy: Clean, reliable, and efficient power for generations to come.”

BACKGROUND: Reps. DeGette and Duncan introduced the Atomic Energy Advancement Act (AEAA) in December of 2023 and passed it out of the House on a strong bipartisan vote of 365-36. A negotiated compromise between the AEAA and the Senate’s ADVANCE Act of 2023 was included in the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which passed the House 393-13, and in the Senate by a vote of 88-2 last month.