Fire Grants and Safety Act

By party

The breakdown counts the 373 members whose positions are loaded; the totals above are the official record's.

Party is as each member's record lists it. Counts are of recorded positions, nothing more.

Official summary (Congressional Research Service)

This act reauthorizes the U.S. Fire Administration and several grant programs for firefighters and fire prevention. It also establishes requirements for coordinating the regulation of nuclear energy and developing and deploying civil nuclear energy, including advanced nuclear reactors and new nuclear technologies. DIVISION A—FIRE GRANTS AND SAFETY Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023 This division reauthorizes the U.S. Fire Administration through FY2028. In addition, the division (1) extends the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program, the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants Program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program through FY2030; and (2) extends the authorizations of appropriations for the programs through FY2028. It also directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct an audit of and issue a publicly available report on (1) barriers that prevent fire departments from accessing federal funds, and (2) the U.S. Fire Administration. DIVISION B—ACCELERATING DEPLOYMENT OF VERSATILE, ADVANCED NUCLEAR FOR CLEAN ENERGY Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024 or the ADVANCE Act of 2024 TITLE I—AMERICAN NUCLEAR LEADERSHIP (Sec. 101) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must coordinate all of its work relating to (1) import and export licensing for nuclear reactors and radioactive materials, and (2) international regulatory cooperation and assistance relating to nuclear reactors and radioactive materials. The NRC must also support interagency and international coordination with respect to the establishment of (1) certain technical standards, (2) competent nuclear regulatory organizations and legal frameworks in foreign countries that are seeking to develop civil nuclear industries, and (3) exchange programs and training relating to civil nuclear licensing and oversight. The NRC may establish an International Nuclear Reactor Export and Innovation Branch within the Office of International Programs to carry out certain international nuclear export and innovation activities. This section provides that the costs for the international nuclear export and innovation activities included in this section are excluded from NRC's annual fees. It also directs the NRC to identify these activities in its annual budget justification. (Sec. 102) This section restricts the possession or ownership of enriched uranium that is fabricated outside of the United States into fuel assemblies for commercial nuclear reactors by an entity that (1) is owned or controlled by Russia or China; or (2) is organized under the laws of, or is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction, of Russia or China. The section prohibits the possession or ownership of the fuel unless the NRC issues a license. Before the NRC may issue a license to nuclear power facilities to possess or own such fuel, the NRC must first consult with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of State to determine whether possession of nuclear fuel from such countries poses a threat to the national security of the United States. If DOE and the State Department jointly determine that possession or ownership of the fuel would pose such a threat, then the NRC may not issue a license. (Sec. 103) The NRC must notify specified congressional committees if it issues an export license for the transfer of certain nuclear fuels, reactors, plants, or plant components to countries that have not signed specified nonproliferation protocols of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). (Sec. 104) DOE must study and report on the global status of (1) the civilian nuclear energy industry, and (2) the supply chains of the civilian nuclear energy industry. (Sec. 105) DOE must, with the concurrence of the Department of State, identify and evaluate certain factors that may be used to determine whether a country is preapproved (i.e., has generally authorized destination status) to receive certain nuclear-related assistance and technology transfers from the United States. DOE must also (1) review and update the process for determining a country’s generally authorized destination status and consider the factors that have been identified, and (2) revise the list of qualifying countries at least one every five years. TITLE II—DEVELOPING AND DEPLOYING NEW NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES (Sec. 201) This section modifies the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act to temporarily reduce the NRC's licensing fees collected from (1) advanced nuclear reactor applicants, or (2) advanced nuclear reactor pre-applicants for the review of licensing project plans of advanced nuclear reactors. The reduced rates terminate on September 30, 2030. (Sec. 202) DOE may award prizes to a nonfederal entity or the Tennessee Valley Authority in an amount equal to NRC fees for licensing certain advanced nuclear reactors. Specifically, DOE may make awards for activities related to the review and approval of the first operating license or combined operating license for an advanced nuclear reactor. DOE may make awards for the first advanced reactor that meets certain requirements and (1) uses isotopes derived from spent nuclear fuel or depleted uranium as fuel for the reactor, (2) is part of a nuclear integrated energy system that meets certain requirements, (3) is used for nonelectric application, or (4) is licensed under the new technology-inclusive regulatory framework required by the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act. An entity that receives an award is not required to repay that award or pay a dividend or interest on the award. (Sec. 203) This section directs the NRC to report on any unique licensing issues or requirements relating to (1) the flexible operation of advanced nuclear reactors; (2) the use of advanced nuclear reactors exclusively for nonelectric applications; and (3) the placement of nuclear reactors adjacent to or near industrial plants or other facilities. The report must include cost estimates