21st Century American Atomic Energy Age Act

HR 3553, the 21st Century American Atomic Energy Age Act, prohibits the use and import of nuclear fuel from Russia for U.S. nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors (SMRs), and requires new regulations to enforce this within 183 days of enactment. It establishes a new Office within the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to evaluate the economic, environmental, and national security benefits of nuclear projects, including SMRs. The bill also extends the Price-Anderson Act (which limits nuclear liability) through 2045 and mandates reports on nuclear energy’s role in critical infrastructure resilience. These provisions directly affect U.S. nuclear facility operators, SMR developers, and the NRC’s regulatory processes.