WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) praised the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for signing a historic Memorandum of Cooperation with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to increase effectiveness in developing advanced nuclear technologies.

“Today’s historic agreement between American and Canadian nuclear regulators is another step to safely and efficiently deploy advanced nuclear technologies,” said Barrasso. “I applaud Chairman Svinicki for her efforts to assure America remains the international leader in developing advanced nuclear technologies. Clean, reliable nuclear energy is critical to addressing climate change. I encourage the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to continue to develop a risk-informed regulatory framework to allow America’s nuclear innovators to succeed.” 

Barrasso is chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) which has jurisdiction over the NRC and the civilian use of nuclear energy.

Background Information: 

On June 4, 2019, the EPW Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety held a hearing on protecting U.S. leadership in and expanding licensing opportunities for advanced nuclear technologies.

On January 14, 2019, President Trump signed S. 512, the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA), into law. NEIMA was introduced by Barrasso and a bipartisan group of cosponsors. NEIMA requires the NRC to develop a regulatory framework for America’s innovators, who seek to deploy advanced nuclear technologies.

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