Strengthening the NRC Workforce Act of 2023

This bill would give the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) more flexibility to hire and pay specialized staff. It allows the NRC Chairman to directly hire qualified individuals for critical scientific, technical, engineering, mathematical, or legal positions without following standard federal hiring rules when there's a severe shortage of candidates. The bill also permits the Chairman to set higher pay for certain specialized roles to help retain and attract staff, with limits on bonuses (up to $25,000 for new hires and performance). The NRC would need to report annually to Congress on hiring, vacancies, and compensation practices. This primarily affects NRC employees in highly specialized positions and the Commission's leadership.