An act to authorize appropriations for the United States Fire Administration and firefighter assistance grant programs, to advance the benefits of nuclear energy, and for other purposes.

Became Public Law No: 118-67.

Jul 9, 2024

This act contains two main divisions. Division A reauthorizes the U.S. Fire Administration through fiscal year 2028 and extends three firefighter grant programs through fiscal year 2030, while directing the Government Accountability Office to audit barriers to federal fund access for fire departments. Division B establishes coordination requirements for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on nuclear energy regulation, including international export licensing and regulatory cooperation; restricts possession of enriched uranium fuel assemblies fabricated outside the U.S. by Russian or Chinese entities unless licensed by the NRC with approval from the Department of Energy and State Department; requires NRC notification to Congress on certain nuclear fuel exports; and directs the Department of Energy to study the global civilian nuclear industry and its supply chains.

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This act reauthorizes the U.S. Fire Administration and several grant programs for firefighters and fire prevention. It also establishes requirements for coordinating the regulation of nuclear energy and developing and deploying civil nuclear energy, including advanced nuclear reactors and new nuclear technologies. DIVISION A—FIRE GRANTS AND SAFETY Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023 This division reauthorizes the U.S. Fire Administration through FY2028. In addition, the division (1) extends the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program, the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants Program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program through FY2030; and (2) extends the authorizations of appropriations for the programs through FY2028. It also directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct an audit of and issue a publicly available report on (1) barriers that prevent fire departments from accessing federal funds, and (2) the U.S. Fire Administration. DIVISION B—ACCELERATING DEPLOYMENT OF VERSATILE, ADVANCED NUCLEAR FOR CLEAN ENERGY Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024 or the ADVANCE Act of 2024 TITLE I—AMERICAN NUCLEAR LEADERSHIP (Sec. 101) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must coordinate all of its work relating to (1) import and export licensing for nuclear reactors and radioactive materials, and (2) international regulatory cooperation and assistance relating to nuclear reactors and radioactive materials. The NRC must also support interagency and international coordination with respect to the establishment of (1) certain technical standards, (2) competent nuclear regulatory organizations and legal frameworks in foreign countries that are seeking to develop civil nuclear industries, and (3) exchange programs and training relating to civil nuclear licensing and oversight. The NRC may establish an International Nuclear Reactor Export and Innovation Branch within the Office of International Programs to carry out certain international nuclear export and innovation activities. This section provides that the costs for the international nuclear export and innovation activities included in this section are excluded from NRC's annual fees. It also directs the NRC to identify these activities in its annual budget justification. (Sec. 102) This section restricts the possession or ownership of enriched uranium that is fabricated outside of the United States into fuel assemblies for commercial nuclear reactors by an entity that (1) is owned or controlled by Russia or China; or (2) is organized under the laws of, or is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction, of Russia or China. The section prohibits the possession or ownership of the fuel unless the NRC issues a license. Before the NRC may issue a license to nuclear power facilities to possess or own such fuel, the NRC must first consult with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of State to determine whether possession of nuclear fuel from such countries poses a threat to the national security of the United States. If DOE and the State Department jointly determine that possession or ownership of the fuel would pose such a threat, then the NRC may not issue a license. (Sec. 103) The NRC must notify specified congressional committees if it issues an export license for the transfer of certain nuclear fuels, reactors, plants, or plant components to countries that have not signed specified nonproliferation protocols of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). (Sec. 104) DOE must study and report on the global status of (1) the civilian nuclear energy industry, and (2) the supply chains of the civilian nuclear energy industry. (Sec. 105) DOE must, with the concurrence of the Department of State, identify and evaluate certain factors that may be used to determine whether a country is preapproved (i.e., has generally authorized destination status) to receive certain nuclear-related assistance and tec