Senators Budd and Coons Introduce Bill to Strengthen U.S. Nuclear Energy Leadership
U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) have introduced the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to codify the U.S. State Department's FIRST program, which supports the responsible deployment of civil nuclear energy globally. The bill seeks to prioritize U.S. economic and national security interests by advancing the nuclear industry and supporting American companies' partnerships with other countries expanding their nuclear energy programs. The FIRST program, launched in 2019, is a multiagency initiative that leverages public-private partnerships to strengthen U.S. leadership in civil nuclear energy. It engages with over 50 partner countries to deploy advanced nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs), adhering to international standards for nuclear security, safety, and nonproliferation. 
