American Enrichment Deployment Act

119th Congress Introduced by Jake Auchincloss and 5 co-sponsors

The bill allows construction of a uranium enrichment facility to begin before NRC license issuance under a new framework, while preserving NRC authority and due process.

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Summary: American Enrichment Deployment Act (H.R. 9612, 119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

The bill aims to update the licensing framework for uranium enrichment facilities under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

Its stated goal is to enable timely and safe deployment of uranium enrichment facilities by adjusting construction and licensing procedures.

Key provisions and changes

Revises licensing approach for enrichment facilities (Section 193 changes):

Subsections (a) and (b) of current Section 193 are repealed and replaced with a new framework.
New subsection (a) establishes a pathway for permitting construction of a uranium enrichment facility to commence prior to the issuance of an NRC license under Sections 53 and 63, applying the same terms and conditions as other fuel cycle facilities licensed under those sections.
The first sentence of the former subsection (c) is modified, and subsections (c)–(f) are redesignated as (b)–(e), changing the structure of the section accordingly.

Regulatory action requirement (Regulations):

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must issue or revise regulations within 180 days after enactment to implement the Act and its amendments.

Construction and licensing scope preserved (Rule of construction):

The amendments do not remove or diminish NRC’s existing authority to regulate construction as necessary for licensing a uranium enrichment facility (including denial of a license for failure to comply with regulatory requirements).
The amendments do not affect the right to a hearing under Section 189 of the Atomic Energy Act for interested parties in NRC proceedings.

Who/what is affected

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC):

Must implement and revise regulations within 180 days of enactment to reflect the new construction-approval pathway and related processes.

Uranium enrichment facility developers/applicants:

Could commence construction prior to NRC license issuance under the amended framework, subject to the same terms as other fuel-cycle facilities licensed under Sections 53 and 63.

Interested parties and public:

Retain rights to hearings and participation in licensing proceedings as provided by the Atomic Energy Act.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective timeline for regulatory changes:

NRC is required to issue or revise regulations no later than 180 days after enactment.

Legislative timeline (current status):

Introduced July 9, 2026; referred to House committees (Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Energy).
Subcommittee mark-up occurred July 14, 2026, with the full Committee consideration following.

Additional context

The bill is sponsored by multiple members (and co-sponsored by Erin Houchin, Victoria Spartz, Jake Auchincloss, Mike Kennedy, Russell Fry, and Kim Schrier).

The text indicates an intent to streamline or accelerate deployment while preserving NRC regulatory authority and due process rights.

If you’d like, I can provide a comparison with current law (baseline Section 193) to highlight exact changes in language and procedural shifts, or a quick impact assessment for project developers.