Bills · 119th Congress · Energy

Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act

Where it stands

  1. Introduced6/12/25
  2. Passed HousePassed 11/9/26
  3. Senate
  4. President
  5. Law

Passed the House 397–2 on November 9, 2026 (Roll Call 315 →).

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Roll calls on this bill

Votes on passage
HouseOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · 11/9/26Suspension of the rulesA fast-track House procedure, usually for measures expected to have broad support. Debate is limited to 40 minutes, no amendments can be offered, and it needs a two-thirds vote of members voting — not a simple majority. A yes vote passes the bill. “As amended” means changes written into the motion itself are included.Rules of the House, Rule XV, clause 1 ↗
Passed
  • Democratic200 Yea · 2 Nay · 12 Not voting
  • Republican196 Yea · 0 Nay · 22 Not voting
  • Independent / Other1 Yea · 0 Nay · 0 Not voting
Official summary (CRS)

The following analysis is based on draft bill text that was made available by the House of Representatives and may differ from the bill text as introduced.

Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act

This bill directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to license future recycling facilities that reprocess certain spent nuclear fuel (i.e., radioactive waste) under regulations for special nuclear material rather than regulations for production and utilization facilities. The bill applies to domestic facilities that reprocess spent nuclear fuel in a manner that does not isolate plutonium. Generally, such recycling facilities reprocess spent nuclear fuel into materials that may be reused as nuclear fuel for electricity.

Full text on congress.gov ↗
Sponsor
Rep. Robert E. Latta ( Republican · OH-5)
Cosponsors
28
Introduced
6/12/25
Policy area
Energy

What happens next

The Senate must pass the same text, then it goes to the President.

If it isn't enacted by Jan 3, 2027, it expires when the 119th Congress ends.

All actions (15)
  1. 6/12/25Introduced in House
  2. 6/12/25Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  3. 6/12/25Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
  4. 7/14/26Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  5. 7/14/26Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
  6. 11/5/26Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-871.
  7. 11/5/26Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 768.
  8. 11/9/26Mr. Latta moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  9. 11/9/26Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6096-6097)
  10. 11/9/26DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3978.
  11. 11/9/26At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  12. 11/9/26Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6107-6108)
  13. 11/9/26Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 397 - 2 (Roll no. 315).
  14. 11/9/26On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 397 - 2 (Roll no. 315). (text: CR H6096)
  15. 11/9/26Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.