Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5549 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5549 To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide for more efficient hearings on nuclear facility construction applications, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 23, 2025 Mr. Griffith (for himself, Ms. Schrier, and Mr. Veasey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide for more efficient hearings on nuclear facility construction applications, and for other purposes. 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 ``Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act''. SEC. 2. UPDATING HEARING PROCEDURES. (a) Hearings and Judicial Review.--Section 189 a. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2239(a)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1)(A)-- (A) by striking ``In any proceeding under this Act'' and inserting the following: ``(i) In any proceeding under this Act''; and (B) in clause (i) (as so designated), by striking ``The Commission shall hold a hearing'' and all that follows through ``upon a determination by the Commission that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration.'' and inserting the following: ``(ii) The Commission may, in the absence of a request for a hearing by any person whose interest may be affected, issue a construction permit, an operating license, a combined construction permit and operating license, an amendment to a construction permit, an amendment to an operating license, or an amendment to a combined construction permit and operating license under section 103, 104 b., 104 c., or 185 b. fo