Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act Passes House

Thursday, November 12, 2026 – The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5549, the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act. This measure, introduced by U.S. Representatives Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Marc Veasey (D-TX), seeks to reform federal nuclear licensing processes and improve the overall effectiveness of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The bill heads to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

Following House passage of the bill, Congressman Griffith issued the following statement:

“Federal energy policy must reflect the energy environment of today, not of the 1950s. I am a Republican leader of the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act because it will better serve the energy needs of American communities.

“A more efficient process to facilitate new nuclear energy projects will support a reliable and safe source of energy for American homes, businesses, hospitals and more. I will continue to work with my colleagues to meet America’s growing energy demands.”

BACKGROUND
In the 118th Congress, Congressman Griffith introduced H.R. 6464, the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act

The bill amends the Atomic Energy Act by dropping the requirement for the NRC to hold a public hearing at the end of the licensing process if the license is not contested by an affected party.

Uncontested licensing hearings result in hours of preparation for the NRC staff, greatly inflate the application fees for the NRC staff’s preparation time and unnecessarily delay the approval of applications.

Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Chris Coons (D-DE) carry the Senate companion, S. 1757.